Terengganu registered their first win in the 2011 Super League campaign with a comfortable 3-1 victory over bottom team, Perlis at the Utama Stadium, Kangar last night. First half goals from Abdul Hadi Yahya and Ashari Shamsudin gave The Turtles the lead at the interval before Abdul Manaf Mamat converted a penalty in the second period, making it 3-0 for Irfan Bakti's men in white.
A wonderful strike by Mohamad Hafizuan Salehudin with around twenty minutes to go gave the home fans something to shout about, praying rather than expecting a fightback was on the cards for their young team. It turned out to be just a consolation for Perlis, which still looking for their first win of the season after three matches.
Terengganu made their intention clear from the start that they came to Kangar looking for their first win of the season and while the Perlis side had youth on their side it was their inexperience that the visitors intended to exploit.
Joseph Kalang and Hadi came close several times for Terengganu before they eventually broke the deadlock. Ironically it came after Perlis had their best chance of the match, rocking Sharbinee Allawee's bar from a free-kick.
In the 23rd minute a pass from Zharif Hasna found Joseph inside the box. The Sarawakian played the ball short to Manaf who turned it towards goal. It was going wide until Hadi popped up at the far post to open his goal account for the new season and also for his new team after his close season switch from PBDKT T-Team.
Before the Perlis players could regroup they found themselves two goals behind when Joseph played a long ball from inside his own half to Ashari. His deft touch took the ball past the goalkeeper and from an acute angle slotted the ball home despite some desperate defending by the home defence.
Towards the end of the first half Perlis began to find some rhythm and tested Sharbinee in quick succession but the Terengganu defence stood firm. Instead it was the visitors who looked likke adding to the tally before the break with Ashari seeing his free-kick which was going in at the top corner before the goalkeeper intervention.
Another free-kick saw a scramble inside the Perlis penalty area before it fell to Terengganu skipper Marzuki Yusof who hit it on the volley. The goalkeeper was completely beaten but it landed on the wrong side of the bar.
The second half saw the same story continued with Terengganu maintaining control of the proceedings. However it was Perlis who were the early aggressor when the match resumed. unfortunately they could not find a way past the Terenganu defence.
The Turtles were three goals to the good when during a quick counter-attack by Terengganu saw Ashari being fouled inside the penalty area. Manaf who was making his first start for the season took the responsibility from the spot and duly converted the chance for his first goal of the season.
However Perlis continued to fight, which was a piece of good news to their coach, Mustaqim Omar. Then in the 68th minute they got their reward when a flowing move saw the ball reached Hafizuan who unleashed a shot from outside the box. It went in at the top corner with Sharbinee completely beaten.
It should be nominated for 'Goal of the Season' award.
Perlis tried to press for more goals but they were caught several times when Terengganu managed to launch quick counter-attacks. During one such move Ashari and the goalkeeper collided. During the confusion Hafizuan threw the ball at the referee, and having received a yellow card during the penalty incident earlier, the second one meant he had to go off.
With ten men there was no way back for Perlis and Terengganu coasted for their first win of the season. the win propelled Terengganu to second spot of the Malaysian Super League table, for twenty four hours at least before the rest take the field on Saturday.
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