DH Cebu FC Snatch Historic Point in Thrilling 1-1 Draw Against Selangor FC
CEBU CITY, Philippines - DH Cebu FC celebrated a landmark moment in their 2025/26 ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ campaign on Wednesday night, holding Malaysian powerhouse Selangor FC to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
The Philippines Football League side secured their first point of the tournament against a Selangor team that entered the match atop the Group A standings, turning in a disciplined and determined performance that suggests they are finding their feet on the regional stage.
Selangor, affectionately known as the Red Giants, began the match assertively. Brazilian forward Willian Lira saw an early close-range effort blocked, and Cebu goalkeeper Rami Jeridi was immediately called into action to deny Izwan Yuslan. Omid Musawi then flashed a shot across the face of the goal in the 12th minute as the visitors dictated the early tempo.
However, Cebu’s threat on the break was palpable. A rapid counter-attack saw Selangor keeper Kalamullah Al Hafiz forced into a crucial diving save to keep out Abdulfatohi Khudoidodzoda’s goal-bound strike. The half continued as a tense back-and-forth, with Jeridi proving a formidable obstacle, keeping out a long-range effort from Mohammad Abualnadi and another shot from Izwan. Just before the interval, Anderson Pinto’s strike across the Selangor goal served as a warning sign of what was to come.
The deadlock was dramatically broken just two minutes after the restart. From Esrom Paulos’ corner, both Abou Sy and Rico Andes rose, with Andes seemingly getting the final touch as the headed effort bounced over the Selangor goal line, sparking jubilant scenes among the home supporters. DH Cebu FC had the shock lead.
The advantage was fleeting, though. Only seven minutes later, Selangor’s class showed as Willian Lira finally found a way past the outstanding Jeridi, drilling a shot through the Cebu defense from 12 yards out to level the score at 1-1.
The final stages saw Selangor push relentlessly for the winner. Substitute Chrigor Moraes dragged an attempt wide, and the visitors came agonizingly close when Picha Autra’s spectacular scissor kick from the edge of the box cannoned off the post. Despite the late pressure, Cebu's defense held firm to claim the valuable draw.