2023 MFL Challenge Cup
{{Infobox football tournament season
| image =
| title = MFL Challenge Cup
| year = 2023
| other_titles = Piala Cabaran MFL 2023
| caption =
| date = 18 September – 3 December 2023
| country = Malaysia
| num_teams = 8
| defending_champions =
| winners = PDRM
| count =
| second = Kuching City
| matches = 14
| goals = 44
| scoring_leader = (5 goals)
Uche Agba
| award =
| prev_season = 2019
| next_season = 2024–25
| updated =
}}
The 2023 MFL Challenge Cup is the third edition of Malaysia Challenge Cup tournament organised by Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Malaysian Football League (MFL). The tournament began on 18 September and ended on 3 December 2023. The qualified teams will compete on the knockout stage to compete in a two-legged single-elimination tournament beginning with the quarterfinals followed by semi-finals and the final. Each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time and penalty shoot-out are used to decide the winner if necessary.
A total of 8 teams competed in the knockout phase, which the eight losers of the Malaysia Cup round of 16 will participate into the tournament.{{Cite web|url=https://makanbola.com/mfl-challenge-cup-kembali-warnai-arena-bola-sepak-tempatan/ |title=MFL Challenge Cup Kembali Warnai Arena Bola Sepak Tempatan |website=makanbola.com |publisher=Makan Bola |date=26 January 2023 |accessdate=26 January 2023 |first=Azri |last=Haziq}} This was the first Challenge Cup to be held since the 2019 edition, after the previous 3 years saw the tournament not held due to various circumstances. This was also the first tournament under its new name, the MFL Challenge Cup.
PDRM defeated Kuching City in the final, with 4–1 on aggregate, thus winning the competition for the first time in club history.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kosmo.com.my/2023/12/03/pdrm-fc-juara-piala-cabaran-2023/ |title=PDRM FC juara Piala Cabaran 2023 |website=kosmo.com.my |publisher=Kosmo |date=3 December 2023 |accessdate=3 December 2023 |first=Muhamad Ardie Putra |last=Suhaimi}}
Teams
All 8 teams eliminated from the Malaysia Cup round of 16 will enter the tournament:
| class="wikitable" |
| Key to colours |
|---|
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF
|Losers of round of 16 enter 2023 MFL Challenge Cup |
| class="wikitable" |
| width=200|Team |
|---|
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF |
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF |
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF |
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF |
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF |
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF |
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF
|PDRM |
| bgcolor=#FFBBFF |
Format
Each tie in the knockout phase was played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The team that scored more goals on aggregate over the two legs advanced to the next round. If the aggregate score was level, then 30 minutes of extra time was played (the away goals rule was not applied). If the score was still level at the end of extra time, the winners were decided by a penalty shoot-out. In the final, which was played as a single match, if the score was level at the end of normal time, extra time was played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if the score was still level.
The mechanism of the draws for each round was as follows:
- In the draws for the quarter-finals onwards, there were no seedings, and teams from the same association could be drawn against each other. As the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals were held together before the quarter-finals were played, the identity of the quarter-final winners was not known at the time of the semi-final draw. A draw was also held to determine which semi-final winner would be designated as the "home" team for the final (for administrative purposes as it was played at a neutral venue).
Schedule
The schedule was as follows (all draws were held at the Malaysian Football League headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor).
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Round
!First leg !Second leg |
|---|
| Quarter-finals
|18–19 September 2023 |4–6 October 2023 |
| Semi-finals
|21–22 October 2023 |4–5 November 2023 |
| Final
|29 November 2023 |3 December 2023 |
Knockout-stage
=Bracket=
{{8TeamBracket|legs=2/2/2|aggregate=y|seeds=n
| team-width = 200
| nowrap = yes
| RD1 = Quarter-finals
| RD2 = Semi-finals
| RD3 = Final
| RD1-team01 = Penang
| RD1-score01-1 = 2
| RD1-score01-2 = 3
| RD1-score01-agg = 5
| RD1-team02 = Harini Selangor {{aet}}
| RD1-score02-1 = 1
| RD1-score02-2 = 2
| RD1-score02-agg = 3
| RD1-team03 = Kuala Lumpur Rovers
| RD1-score03-1 = 1
| RD1-score03-2 = 1
| RD1-score03-agg = 2
| RD1-team04 = PDRM
| RD1-score04-1 = 2
| RD1-score04-2 = 3
| RD1-score04-agg = 5
| RD1-team05 = Kuching City
| RD1-score05-1 = 1
| RD1-score05-2 = 3
| RD1-score05-agg = 4
| RD1-team06 = Kedah Darul Aman
| RD1-score06-1 = 0
| RD1-score06-2 = 0
| RD1-score06-agg = 0
| RD1-team07 = Kelantan United
| RD1-score07-1 = 7
| RD1-score07-2 = 4
| RD1-score07-agg = 11
| RD1-team08 = Kelantan
| RD1-score08-1 = 0
| RD1-score08-2 = 0
| RD1-score08-agg = 0
| RD2-team01 = Penang
| RD2-score01-1 = 1
| RD2-score01-2 = 0
| RD2-score01-agg = 1
| RD2-team02 = PDRM
| RD2-score02-1 = 2
| RD2-score02-2 = 2
| RD2-score02-agg = 4
| RD2-team03 = Kuching City
| RD2-score03-1 = 1
| RD2-score03-2 = 2
| RD2-score03-agg = 3
| RD2-team04 = Kelantan United
| RD2-score04-1 = 1
| RD2-score04-2 = 0
| RD2-score04-agg = 1
| RD3-team01 = PDRM
| RD3-score01-1 = 3
| RD3-score01-2 = 1
| RD3-score01-agg = 4
| RD3-team02 = Kuching City
| RD3-score02-1 = 0
| RD3-score02-2 = 1
| RD3-score02-agg = 1
}}
----
=Quarter-finals=
The first legs were played on 18 and 19 September 2023, and the second legs were played on 4, 5 and 6 October 2023.{{cite web |url=https://files.malaysianfootballleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jadual-MFL-Challenge-Cup-2023-Pusingan-Suku-Akhir-Kemaskini-29082023.pdf |title=Jadual Pertandingan MFL Challenge Cup 2023 |website=malaysianfootballleague.com |publisher=Malaysian Football League |date=5 September 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023 }}{{cite web |url=https://files.malaysianfootballleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jadual-MFL-Challenge-Cup-2023-Pusingan-Suku-Akhir-Kemaskini-27092023.pdf |title=Kemaskini Jadual MFL Challenge Cup 2023 |website=malaysianfootballleague.com |publisher=Malaysian Football League |date=30 September 2023 |access-date=30 September 2023 }}
{{TwoLegStart}}
{{TwoLegResult|Kelantan United|| 11–0 |Kelantan||7–0|4–0}}
{{TwoLegResult|Kuala Lumpur Rovers||2–5|PDRM||1–2|1–3}}
{{TwoLegResult|Kuching City||4–0|Kedah Darul Aman||1–0|3–0}}
{{TwoLegResult|Penang||5–3|Harini Selangor||2–1|3–2 {{aet}}}}
|}
=Matches=
;First leg
{{Football box
|id = Kelantan United v Kelantan
|date = {{Start date|2023|9|18|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|team1 = Kelantan United
|score = 7–0
|team2 = Kelantan
|goals1 =
- Balić {{goal|9}}
- Akinade {{goal|18}}
- Indra {{goal|59}}
- Faiz {{goal|74}}
- Sharvin {{goal|79}}
- Royizzat {{goal|88||90}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, Kota Bharu
|referee = Munir Izam
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F278704%2Fpreview%3F
}}
;Second leg
{{Football box
|id = Kelantan v Kelantan United
|date = {{Start date|2023|10|4|df=y}}
|time = 20:15{{efn|The match has been delayed 2 hours due to rain.}}
|team1 = Kelantan
|score = 0–4
|team2 = Kelantan United
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, Kota Bharu
|referee = Faisal Ridzuan
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F278708%2Fpreview%3F
}}
Kelantan United won 11–0 on aggregate.
----
;First leg
{{Football box
|id = Kuala Lumpur Rovers v PDRM
|date = {{Start date|2023|9|18|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|team1 = Kuala Lumpur Rovers
|score = 1–2
|team2 = PDRM
|goals1 =
- Ikmal {{goal|37}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Cheras
|referee = Shahmi Ismail
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F278705%2Fpreview%3F
}}
;Second leg
{{Football box
|id = PDRM v Kuala Lumpur Rovers
|date = {{Start date|2023|10|5|df=y}}
|time = 20:15
|team1 = PDRM
|score = 3–1
|team2 = Kuala Lumpur Rovers
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Rafie {{goal|61}}
|stadium = MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya
|referee = Khirulazuan Kidam
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F278710%2Fsummary%3F
}}
PDRM won 5–2 on aggregate.
----
;First leg
{{Football box
|id = Kuching City v Kedah Darul Aman
|date = {{Start date|2023|9|19|df=y}}
|time = 20:15
|team1 = Kuching City
|score = 1–0
|team2 = Kedah Darul Aman
|goals1 =
- Kamara {{goal|85}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Sarawak State Stadium, Kuching
|referee = Faizudin Ismail
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F278706%2Fsummary%3F
}}
;Second leg
{{Football box
|id = Kedah Darul Aman v Kuching City
|date = {{Start date|2023|10|4|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|team1 = Kedah Darul Aman
|score = 0–3
|team2 = Kuching City
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Darulaman Stadium, Alor Setar
|referee = Kamal Ikhwan Yaacob
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F278709%2Fpreview%3F
}}
Kuching City won 4–0 on aggregate.
----
;First leg
{{Football box
|id = Penang v Harini Selangor
|date = {{Start date|2023|9|19|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|team1 = Penang
|score = 2–1
|team2 = Harini Selangor
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Fikri {{goal|83}}
|stadium = City Stadium, George Town
|referee = Fairuzi Mat Desa
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F278707%2Fsummary%3F
}}
;Second leg
{{Football box
|id = Harini Selangor v Penang
|date = {{Start date|2023|10|6|df=y}}{{refn|group=note|The Harini Selangor v Penang match, originally scheduled on 5 October 2023 were changed to 6 October 2023, and the original venue (Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium) has been changed to the new venue (Selayang Stadium).}}
|time = 21:00
|team1 = Harini Selangor
|score = 2–3
|aet = yes
|team2 = Penang
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Selayang Stadium, Selayang
|referee = Amiruddin Lantji
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F278711%2Fsummary%3F
}}
Penang won 5–3 on aggregate.
----
=Semi-finals=
The first legs were played on 21 and 22 October 2023, and the second legs were played on 4 and 5 November 2023.{{cite web |url=https://files.malaysianfootballleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jadual-MFL-Challenge-Cup-2023-Pusingan-Separuh-Akhir-Kemaskini-1010023.pdf |title=Jadual Pertandingan MFL Challenge Cup 2023 |website=malaysianfootballleague.com |publisher=Malaysian Football League |date=12 October 2023 |access-date=13 October 2023 }}
{{TwoLegStart}}
{{TwoLegResult|Penang||1–4|PDRM||1–2|0–2}}
{{TwoLegResult|Kuching City||3–1|Kelantan United||1–1|2–0}}
|}
= Matches =
;First leg
{{Football box
|id = Penang v PDRM
|date = 21 October 2023
|time = 17:15
|team1 = Penang
|score = 1–2
|team2 = PDRM
|goals1 =
- Adriano {{goal|61}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = City Stadium, George Town
|referee = Abang Azharudin Abdullah
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F283076%2Fsummary%3F
}}
;Second leg
{{Football box
|id = PDRM v Penang
|date = 5 November 2023
|time = 21:00
|team1 = PDRM
|score = 2–0
|team2 = Penang
|goals1 =
- Agba {{goal|59||82}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya
|referee = Usaid Jamal
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F283075%2Fsummary%3F
}}
PDRM won 4–1 on aggregate.
----
;First leg
{{Football box
|id = Kuching City v Kelantan United
|date = 22 October 2023
|time = 20:15
|team1 = Kuching City
|score = 1–1
|team2 = Kelantan United
|goals1 =
- Bruno {{goal|10}}
|goals2 =
- Asraff {{goal|42}}
|stadium = Sarawak State Stadium, Kuching
|referee = Nafeez Abd Wahab
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F283073%2Fsummary%3F
}}
;Second leg
{{Football box
|id = Kelantan United v Kuching City
|date = 4 November 2023
|time = 16:45
|team1 = Kelantan United
|score = 0–2
|team2 = Kuching City
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, Kota Bharu
|referee = Suhaizi Shukri
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F283074%2Fsummary%3F
}}
Kuching City won 3–1 on aggregate.
----
=Final=
The first leg was played on 29 November 2023, and the second leg was played on 3 December 2023.
{{TwoLegStart}}
{{TwoLegResult|PDRM||4–1|Kuching City||3–0|1–1}}
|}
= Matches =
;First leg
{{Football box
|id = PDRM v Kuching City
|date = 29 November 2023
|time = 20:15
|team1 = PDRM
|score = 3–0
|team2 = Kuching City
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya
|referee = Shukor Zulkiflee
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F286712%2Fsummary%3F
}}
;Second leg
{{Football box
|id = Kuching City v PDRM
|date = 3 December 2023
|time = 20:15
|team1 = Kuching City
|score = 1–1
|team2 = PDRM
|goals1 =
- Shitembi {{goal|33}}
|goals2 =
- Agba {{goal|56}}
|stadium = Sarawak State Stadium, Kuching
|referee = Zamzaidi Katimin
|report = https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F1213%2Fmatch%2F286713%2Fsummary%3F
}}
PDRM won 4–1 on aggregate.
----
= Winner =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin: 0 auto; width: 20%" |
| 2023 MFL Challenge Cup |
|---|
| PDRM 1st title |
Statistics
=Top goalscorers=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Rank !Player !Club |
| rowspan="1"|1
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|NGA}} Uche Agba | style="text-align:left;"|PDRM | rowspan="1"|5 |
| rowspan="2"|2
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|MAS}} Royizzat Daud | style="text-align:left;"|Kelantan United | rowspan="2"|3 |
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|LBR}} Abu Kamara
| style="text-align:left;"|Kuching City |
| rowspan="7"|4
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|MAS}} S. Sharvin | style="text-align:left;"|Kelantan United | rowspan="7"|2 |
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|BRA}} Bruno Dybal
| style="text-align:left;"|Kuching City |
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|TLS}} Pedro Henrique
| style="text-align:left;"|Kuching City |
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|MAS}} Amir Saiful
| style="text-align:left;"|PDRM |
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|MAS}} Fakhrul Azim
| style="text-align:left;"|PDRM |
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|MAS}} Nabil Latpi
| style="text-align:left;"|PDRM |
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|LBN}} Soony Saad
| style="text-align:left;"|Penang |
| rowspan="1"|11
| style="text-align:middle;"|19 players | style="text-align:middle;"|6 clubs | rowspan="1"|1 |
See also
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{Notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}