Night of Draws

It was a night of draws in the Super League tonight as the two fixtures on the menu ended in stalemates.

The Armed Forces (ATM) whose title aspirations took a dent last Saturday with their 3-2 defeat to Terengganu in Kuala Terengganu could not find their way past another east coast side, Pahang.

The Elephants, whose title challenge also faltered in recent weeks have now gone four matches without a win. Their last success was the 3-0 east coast derby win against Terengganu in January.

In Kota Bharu, the home side Kelantan had to thank their foreign striker, Keita Mandjou whose late equaliser saved them the blushes as an early strike by striker, Abdul Hadi Yahya looked set to be the only goal of the match.

Meanwhile in the Premier League, Sime Darby continued their winning ways with a 2-0 win over UiTM FC. Strikes by Karlo Primorac and Goran Perak ensured The Planters remained on top with Sarawak hot on their heels.

The Crocs meanwhile registered a hard fought 1-0 win over Kuala Lumpur at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras. Ivan Babic scored the crucial goal that brought all three points back to Kuching in the 68th minute. His header from a Ramesh Lai cross gave the home side goalkeeper no chance at all.

Sabah made full use of their home advantage when they defeated Johor 3-2 at the Likas Stadium. Koh Traore continued his goal-scoring form with a brace in this match. Shahrul Azhar Ture's strike was sandwiched between Traore's two goals. Rashid Aya and Izuan Jarudin replied for the visitors.

Firza Rozali injury time strike was enough to give SPA FC a 1-0 win over POS Malaysia FC at the UiTM Stadium. The win saw SPA taking over sixth spot from POS Malaysia who now dropped to ninth in the Premier League standings.

Early pace-setters, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) have now gone five matches without a win. In their latest match they fell 3-1 to a resurgent Perlis side who climbed into seventh spot in the table. PDRM remained in fifth but now with just three points separating them with the Northern Lions.

In another match, Betaria FC held Kedah to a goalless draw at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka.


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Saha's Double Put Terengganu in Quarters

Terengganu eased into the quarter final of the 2013 FA Cup competition after registering an easy win over Penang at the Bandaraya Stadium. A goal by Ashaari Shamsuddin just after three minutes put The Turtles on the right track.

However they have to wait until the hour mark before finding the net again. Ashaari who scored twice in the 3-2 win over the Armed Forced (ATM) on Saturday grabbed his second when he finished off a cutback from Abdul Manaf Mamat

It was his fifth goal in the last four matches. Another Terengganu player on a scoring streak was Khairul Ramadhan who scored with a stiff left foot shot in the 76th minute after embarking on a solo run from just inside the Penang half.

Waiting for Terengganu in the quarter finals are Negeri Sembilan who defeated POS Malaysia FC 2-0. Two first half goal from veterans Fauzi Nan and Abdul Rashid Mahmud were enough to see off the challenge from The Postmen.

Another Terengganu team, T-Team Titans failed to make use of their home advantage when facing last season runners-up, Sime Darby FC. Peter Butler's boys who have not won any matches in February were knocked out when Marzuki Yusof diverted the ball into his own net in his attempt to clear a Karlo Primorac low pass into the box.

Sime Darby will now square off with Pahang who had it easy against army outfit, Tentera Darat FC. The Elephants thrashed the FAM League side 7-1 with Azamuddin Akil scoring four goals.

Gopinathan Ramachandra, Mohamad Faizul and Mohamad Borji were the other Pahang goalscorers while Faizal Hamzah replied for Tentera Darat from the penalty spot.

Big spenders Darul Takzim FC looked set to be knocked out from the competition when two strikes from Khyril Muhymeen in the first half gave The Canaries a comfortable lead.

However, in Daniel Guiza the visitors have someone who could turn the match around and he did just that. His first goal in the 69th minute gave his team a fighting chance.

Then as the match entered the second minute of added time, Guiza's precision from a free-kick levelled the match to bring it into extra-time. There was no goal scored during the extra 30 minutes and the winner had to be decided on the lottery of penalties.

Every kick was converted until Kedah failed to convert their fifth penalty when Shazuan Ashraf blasted the ball over. Ironically, it was Guiza who stepped up to take the deciding penalty and he made no mistake to send Darul Takzim into the last eight.

They will now face Selangor who had eliminated Sabah in a match played a week earlier.

Sarawak who defeated PBAPP FC 2-0 in Kuching had to wait to know who will be their opponent in the quarter-final as the match between Kelantan and PKNS FC had to be postponed due to waterlogged pitch at the Sultan Mohamad IV Stadium in Kota Bharu.

Azizan Baba put The Crocs ahead just after the half hour mark before Bobby Gonzales put them further ahead in the 57th minute.


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Pahang Maintain Perfect Record

Pahang continued their good start to the season after registering their third successive win to lead the Super League table. Their hard fought 2-1 win over Negeri Sembilan at the Darul Makmur meant they remained as the only team with a perfect record this season.

Fauzi Rozlan continued his scoring form with a fine strike and Faizol Hussin gave the home fans some relief with the second goal. However an own goal by Hazri Razali meant they have to cope with the pressure from the away team who were seeking to take at least a point out of this match. The defeat saw the Deers remained at the bottom of the Super League table.

Directly above Negeri Sembilan were two Terengganu teams who suffered similar fate. Terengganu lost 2-1 at home to Selangor after early strikes from Kunanlan Suppiah and Amri Yahyah were enough for former Turtles head coach, Irfan Bakti to smile broadly on his return to his former team.

Former Negeri Sembilan striker, Effa Owona reduced the deficit just a minute after Amri's strike but The Turtles could not find their way past their former goalkeeper, Sharbinee Allawee again for the remainder of the match.

In Paroi, T-Team Titans could not continue their winning form against the Armed Forces (ATM), succumbing to a 3-0 defeat. After registering their first win of the season with the 1-0 win over Kelantan in the last round, they just could not cope with The Gladiators who scored through Shukor Adan, Rezal Zambery Yahya and Marlon Alex James.

In Kota Bahru, defending champions Kelantan took the lead against the star studded Darul Takzim FC through Norfarhan Mohamad but a fine strike by Daniel Guiza from a free-kick salvaged a point for the Southern Tigers.

At the Lumut Naval Stadium, Perak fell to their second defeat of the season when a strike by Azmizi Azmi was enough to see Felda United going home with all three points in their pocket. Meanwhile at the MBPJ Stadium, a solitary strike by Mohamad Faudzan Zulkifli was enough to inflict Lions XII first defeat of the season.

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Titans Win Against Kelantan

T-Team Titans claimed their first major scalp of the season when they inflicted the first defeat of the season to champions Kelantan at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu this afternoon. An eighth minute strike by full-back Mohamad Aizulridzwan was enough to seal Peter Butler's first competitive  win as the Titans head coach.

The goal came after Ahmad Syamim broke through on the left before delivering a low ball into the box. It reached Caleb Folan who in turn laid the ball into the path of Aizulridzwan who smashed it home past Khairul Fahmi in the Stags goal.

The Titans who were unlucky to lose against Perak in their opening match held on with former English Premier League player, George Boateng who was named captain, running the show. His experience clearly showed as he inspired his younger team-mates to register an important win.

The Armed Force (ATM) which suffered defeat in their opening Super League match against Lions XII on Wednesday, got back on the winning track. Marlon Alex James who wasted numerous goalscoring chances at Paroi; silenced his critics with a hat-trick against PKNS FC in the Gladiators 3-1 win.

The Lions meanwhile registered their second win of the season after a Fazrul Nawaz header in the 24th minute was enough to see off Selangor at the Jalan Besar Stadium. The striker escaped his markers to connect with Baihakki Khaizan's header from a corner.

Another Stalemate for Terengganu

Darul Takzim registered their first victory of the season after beating Perak at the Hassan Yunos Stadium in Johor Bahru. However, they have to work very hard and only managed to score the only goal of the match when Perak were down to nine men after Khairi Kiman and Mohamad Hisyamuddin were dismissed for second bookable offences in the last eight minutes of the first half.

When Aidil Zafuan headed home a Safiq Rahim's corner two minutes after the restart the home fans could be thinking that they were in for a goal-fest. Unfortunately for them the floodgates remained closed as the visitors closed ranks and at the final whistle had to be content with just a single goal.

In Paroi, Terengganu collected their second point of the season when they failed to break the deadlock against Negeri Sembilan. Both teams lacked ideas when going forward with both foreign strikers failed to have any positive impact on the match.

Negeri Sembilan's Emanuel De Porras had only one attempt on goal and was duly replaced by Firdauz Azizul in the second half. Effa Owona who was the top-scorer for The Deers last season put on a selfish display as he tried to grab the headlines on his return to his former hunting ground.

Earlier in the only afternoon kick-off in the Super League, Pahang struck at the death in their match against Felda United at the Petaling Jaya Stadium. As the match was heading towards a goal-less draw when Pahang Fauzi Rozlan ran onto a pass from the middle. The two goal hero against Darul Takzim then squared the ball for the running Mohamed Borji to slot into the net.

The Elephants second consecutive win saw them continue their stay at the top of the Super League table with the rest of the fixtures are going to be played tomorrow. 

The Premier League meanwhile had a full fixture tonight. The big winners were Sarawak who thrashed UiTM 5-0 in Kuching with their foreign player, Ivan Babic scoring between Bobby Gonzales' brace. Joseph Kalang Tie opened his goal account this season with a stiff grounder and Guy Bwele completing the scoring towards the end of the match.

Elsewhere there were gluts of goals as the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) scored four goals against three time Malaysia Cup champions, Kuala Lumpur. The City Boys goalkeeper Azizon Abdul Kadir was taken off due to injury around the hour mark.

PDRM promptly took advantage of the home side goalkeeper, Phoo Kai Lun inexperience by scoring the first goal in the 64th minute through Khairul Amar Kassim. It seemed the strike going to be the only one in the match until Dzul Haikal Shamery added the second in the 83rd minute. The KL defence were breached again twice in the last few minutes of the match as Afif Amiruddin and Khairul Izuan Abdullah found the net.

Sime Darby found themselves trailing after fifteen minutes when Sabah took the lead through Koh Traore but levelled the score just before half-time when Fahrul Razi Kamaruddin found the net. Their foreign player, Karlo Primorac nudged them into the lead in the 57th minute before Bobby Chin wrapped things up eleven minutes later.


Johor United meanwhile struggled to find the net against Betaria at the Hang Tuah Stadium but in the end prevailed with two goals from Farid Ramli in the 67th minute before Muriel Orlando confirmed the three points six minutes from time.

Kedah who won their opening match against UiTM on Monday continued their winning start to their life in the lower tier. However they have to work hard against POS Malaysia at the Darul Aman Stadium before eventually getting all three.

The visitors had to play with ten men after their goalkeeper was sent off when he was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the penalty area. Despite the advantage in numbers, The Canaries had to rely on a penalty converted by Nelson San Martin to give the home fans something to cheer about.

In another match played at the Hang Jebat Stadium, Public Service Department (SPA) Putrajaya registered their first win of the season after defeating Perlis 4-2.


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Wasteful Marlon as ATM Lost

Charity Cup winner the Malaysian Armed Force (ATM) suffered defeat on their opening Super League fixture against the Lions XII at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi. The visitors' skipper, Shahril Ishak scored the only goal of the match in the 63rd minute, diverting the ball into the net after Muhammad Shakir Hamzah had cleverly pass it back into the goal area from a corner.

But it was a tale of missed chances as ATM striker, Marlon Alex James wasted a number of opportunities to score for his team. His profligacy in front of goal certainly would not go down well with his Head Coach, Sathiananthan Bashkran.

Contrasting fortune for ATM and Kelantan tonight

Meanwhile in Kota Bharu, defending champions Kelantan staged a comeback against PKNS after the visitors had taken the lead through Helmi Remeli in the 13th minutes who beat Khairul Fahmi in the home side's goal with a wonderful free-kick.

However the lead lasted just six minutes when Kelantan skipper, Mohamad Badhri Radzi found the net from outside the box on his second attempt after the first one had rebounded off the PKNS's bar. The visitors looked good for a point as the match entered stoppage time.

Then Zairul Fitri stepped up for The Stags when he diverted an Indra Putra's powerfully driven free-kick past Mohamad Remezey to send the home fans happy with all three points on board for Bojan Hodak's boys.


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Turtles Held on Opening Day

Terengganu began their 2013 Super Campaign with a draw after having to comeback from behind in their match against Felda United at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu today. Their new Head Coach, Elavarasan opted to use Wan Mohamad Azraie in goal instead of Syed Adney who did not make it the bench either.

In defence, new skipper Faizal Muhammad was paired with Cameroonian Vincent Bikina while Qhairul Anwar slotted into the right-back slot. Malaysian international Zubir Azmi played in his usual left-back position.

In the middle of the park, Ismail Faruqi was given the task as the playmaker while new signing, Khairan Ezuan operated as the holding midfileder. However it were the flanks where Elavarasan sprung his surprises as he put Ashaari Shamsuddin on the right while Nik Zul Aziz who had played as a left-back since joining The Turtles, was given the slot on the left flank.

The front-line was led by former Negeri Sembilan striker, Effa Owona with Farderin Kadir partnering him. The home side began brightly but they could not sustain the momentum. Felda United new signing, Mohamad Ghaddar was his side main threat with his pace and physical presence.

Indeed it was the Lebanese who opened the scoring in the 54th minute. Receiving the ball after Zubir's pass was intercepted, he embarked on a run past three Terengganu defenders before slotting the ball past Wan Azraie.

However the lead lasted only three minutes as the home side found their rhythm. Ashaari nearly could have scored when he received the ball from a corner but his effort was blocked by Felda United skipper Mohamad Khaironnisam.Then from the next corner, Ismail Faruqi levelled things up when his corner kick went straight into the net.

The home fans were hoping that their team would build on the goal to get all three points but the match petered down with the best chance fell to substitute Abdul Manaf Mamat whose shot was on target but only for Helmi Eliza to palm it away.

Later in the evening, big spending Darul Takzim went into an early two goal lead through Malaysian internationals, Safiq Rahim and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha in their match against Pahang at The Darul Makmur. Daniel Guiza provided the final pass to both goals in the 11th and 25th minutes.

It looked good until The Elephants decided to stage a comeback after the interval. A brace from Fauzi Roslan in the 49th and 71st minutes delighted the home fans. Then seven minutes from time they were in raptures when Surendran Ravindran stole between two Darul Takzim defenders to divert a low cross from Azamuddin Akil into the visitors' net to ensure all three points stay in Kuantan.

At the Shah Alam Stadium, Negeri Sembilan suffered at the hands of their former player, Kunanlan Subramaniam who scored the only goal in the match between the two sides. The strike came in the 69th minute when the pacy player took advantage of the scramble in the visitors' penalty area.

Meanwhile at Lumut Naval Base Stadium, T-Team Titans were just moments away from getting a valuable point against Perak. However, their defender Mohamad Noraliff in his attempt to make a clearance, headed the ball into his own net to the disappointment of his manager, Peter Butler who later regarded the incident as part of the game.


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