KUANTAN (24 June 2015) – A bullet of a header by substitute Azidan Sarudin deep into five minutes of added time gave leaders Pahang a lucky, lucky 1-0 win over Police in a second round Super League match at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on Tuesday.
Azidan rose high to send a glancing header into the Police net from a high cross from Fauzi Rozlan in a match which the lawmen would have walked away with full points and revenge over their 5-3 defeat at the Shah Alam Stadium last Saturday.
It was heartbreak for Police, especially for their goalkeeper Saiful Amar Sudar’s whose heroics between the posts was the highlight of the match.
The win kept Pahang at the top of the 12-team league at the halfway mark with 26 points while defending champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) kept pace with a hard earned 2-0 win over Terengganu at the Larkin Stadium and kept their second place with 24 points.
It was not an easy win for the Southern Tigers who went into the match with an impressive record of not having lost at home in the last 30 matches. JDT had to slog for the win against a determined Terengganu side playing without their suspended striker Brazilian Paulo Rangel and the injured Issey Nakajima.
JDT’s goals came deep in injury time in both halves with Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak heading home a freekick by Safiq Rahim. Luciano Figueroa went airborne to hit the second goal just before the final whistle.
At the Shah Alam Stadium, Selangor collected full points against Felda United with Robertt Cornthwaite tucking home from a rebound off Felda goalkeeper off a freekick by K. Gurusamy on 38 minutes. Both teams battled to a 4-4 draw last week.
Despite the defeat I am proud of my players who gave their all. It is just unfortunate we lost because of a mistake. There are more matches coming up,” said Felda coach Irfan Bakti.
At the Selayang Stadium, Sime Darby and Kelantan battled to a 1-1 draw. Both teams were playing their first match in the month of Ramadan. Reinaldo Da Costa scored the spot in injury time in the first half before Guilmar Jose Da Silva got the equaliser for the Red Warriors in the 48th minute.
Perak proved too strong for Sarawak at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh with a 3-1 win – riding on a brace by Charles Souza Chad (11th & 32nd) and one by South Korean Namkung Woong (59th). Billy Mehmet got Sarawak’s consolation goal in the 48th minute.
SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS (Tuesday June 23)
Selangor 1 Felda United 0
Armed Forces 1 Lions XII 1
JDT 2 Terengganu 0
Perak 3 Sarawak 1
Pahang 1 Police 0
Sime Darby 1 Kelantan 1
