East Coast...

...Rule at the Top

After three matches teams from the East Coast of Malaysia are occupying the top three spots at the top of the Super League. Despite being held to a goal-less draw by Sabah in Kuala Terengganu PBDKT T-Team continue to lead the table on goal difference over Kelantan who registered a 2-1 home victory over Johor FC.

Indra Putra Mahyuddin pleased the home crowd who had endured a goal-less first 45 minutes with the opener ten minutes into the second half but they were silenced six minutes later when The Bees levelled the score through Mohamad Khairul Ismail. National striker became the toast of the night for Kelantan when he notched the winner in the 72nd minute.

Terengganu climbed into third place after new signing, Francis Doe scored on his debut for The Turtles in the 1-0 win over Sarawak in Kuching. The Liberian started for Terengganu for the first time in a competitive match along with Brazilian midfielder, Baiano.


It was the home side that dominated the match and created a few chances but Terengganu goalkeeper, Sharbinee Allawee performed well between the sticks to deny the home team from scoring. Then in the 36th minute Doe shrugged off the attention from three Sarawak players before unleashing a stiff shot past the unrushing Saiful Amar Sudar for the only goal of the match.

Perak who had beaten Terengganu on the opening day are also level on points with the Turtles but have an inferior goal difference. They are in fourth after defeating Negeri Sembilan 2-1 in Ipoh.

Former national striker, Akmal Rizal Rakhli scored a brace in the second half as The Buffaloes staged a comeback after Negeri Sembilan striker, Effa Owona had put the visitors ahead after five minutes.

Perhaps the biggest result of the day was the 1-0 win by Felda United over Selangor at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka which saw The Settlers moving up to fifth, leapt-frogging The Deers and The Red Giants. Midfielder Azrul Ahmad scored the only goal of the match on the half hour mark.

Lions XII recorded their first victory with a 2-1 win over bottom team Kuala Lumpur. The struggling City Boys fell behind when their defender, Aiman Syazwan put the ball into his own net four minutes before the interval. Shahdan Sulaiman increased the margin twelve minutes into the second half.

However, Kuala Lumpur were handed a lifeline in the 67th minute when Lions defender Safuwan Baharudin conceded a penalty. To compound the matter, the referee flashed the defender a second yellow card which meant the home side had to cope with just ten men.

Fazuan Abdullah converted the spot-kick to reduce the deficit. Unfortunately for Kuala Lunpur, despite their numerical advantage they just could not conjure an equaliser and in the end suffered their third successive defeat which saw them remaining at the foot of the table.

Sabah despite their point in Kuala Terengganu found themselves dropping down to ninth in the table with their Borneo counterparts Sarawak a place below them in tenth. Johor FC and PKNS FC also lost grounds, the latter failed to make use of their home ground as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Kedah in a drab match.


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