KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City players basked in a rare moment of international success on Wednesday.
The City Boys had just beaten Indonesia's PSM Makassar 5-2 in the AFC Cup Asean zonal final at the KLFA Stadium.
The Malaysia Cup champions hit the Indonesian club with goals from Romel Morales (33rd minute), Jordan Mintah (47th), Paulo Josue (51st, penalty and 85th) and Hadin Azman (93rd penalty).
Makassar replied though Yakob Sayuri (58th) and Akbar Tanjung (62nd).
Skipper Josue displayed exemplary team spirit as he sacrificed a chance of getting a hat-trick by letting Hadin take a spot kick. And Hadin dedicated his goal to his yet-to-be-born baby.
KL City coach Bojan Hodak said the Asean title is the perfect gift for his team ahead of Malaysia's National Day celebration on Aug 31.
The Croatian is dreaming of another KL City fairytale run on the Asian stage.
KL City will next face India's ATK Mohun Bagan in the AFC Cup inter-zone play-off semi-finals at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sept 7.
"We're the Asean champions, and this is a fitting gift for Malaysia's National Day celebrations.
"We are getting better going forward and we scored five goals (against Makassar).
"Makassar were supposed to be the in-form team but we're a hardworking club with little expectation and nobody expected us to win.
"We took risks and counter-attacked to score the last two goals."