Driving to Paroi as a Selangor fan was easier with a car with registration plate beginning with N. It naturally avoided any sort of fanatical trigger, especially when looking for space to park near Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
The stadium reminded me of Craven Cottage, erected not exactly in the hearts of the city but in the middle of a housing area. I settled the car in front of a house, at a walking distance to the stadium, and minus my Selangor jersey, I looked like a visiting relative.
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The worst came from the back four, and Khairul Anuar Baharom failed to organise the defence as tightly as he did before, but however cut off few deadly passes from Negri destructive forces.
Selangor were out of possession throughout the game. Negri's dynamic duo Rezal Zambry and Idris Karim calmly roamed the centre half and were brilliant suppliers to Zaquan Adha to benefit.
But I don't know why, and I hope it did not involve Ayu Raudhah, but Zaquan Adha's performance did not match his regard as nation's number one.
Maybe K. Devan spotted few holes that he changed the dynamic in the second half, bringing on R. Surendran and played Amri Yahyah back in midfield. Amirul Hadi Zainal was also brought in to fill the space Hardi Jaafar hugely left.
Looking at how bad Selangor played and the unfavourable score board in the first half, I thought the journey to Paroi would end in the blues.
But Selangor is still the Selangor I knew. With few brilliant tactical changes, a bit of luck and the belief of its fans, Red Giants scored twice in 7 minutes, enough to check the first silverware of the season.
It is going to be a long season for Selangor with 60 matches and 5 cups to die for, amounts more than any Super League teams this year. But that is what champions do, we fight the battle worth fighthing, and with the kind of support I saw in Paroi last night, I fail to see why not.
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The crowd was a strong 30,000 people. Even when playing home, Negri fans were no match to the tradition and colour Selangor fans brought with them to Paroi. Selangor fans sang almost every time, and the intertwined mandatory cheer-jeer easily out-do Negri fans, who relied on their 'Hobin Jang Hobin' chant everytime to flare the atmosphere up when their team were attacking.
Kedah and Kelantan fans are more of Selangor's material to fight, and I can't wait for such intensity to come.
But their presence and love for their local team was something commendable and deserved a mention, although I don't know what happened before the team won the Malaysian Cup after so many years.
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A nearer exit to take to get to Paroi is Senawang and it will cost you RM8.20 if you're driving from KL. There is a nice Tom Yam restaurant (a habitual Malaysian restaurateur misnomer - Tom Yam is a dish, not a cuisine) on your right after the exit.
I was surprised to know that there is actually a Taman Rashidah Utama and it is located in Seremban. The car was full with karaoke bums and looking at the sign was like paedophiles waking up in a kindergarten.
My dad is from Kuala Pilah, and going to Negri Sembilan using his car and as a Selangor fan guilted me.
The night continued and ended at Downtown Cheras with teh o ais (iced tea), a plate of nasi goreng with telur mata kerbau (fried rice and eggs, sunny side up) and a sweet three point in the pocket.
Excellent, excellent curtain raiser.
2nd goal itu mantap dowh