PENANG (17 Feb 2016) – Newly promoted Penang gave a dominant performance in their first Super League match at home this season when they whipped the daylights out of Pahang for a thumping 4-1 win at the City Stadium.
Pahang also saw red when Solomon Raj was sent for an early shower for a second bookable offence in the 59th minute.
The big win was made all the more sweeter for the Panthers when Terengganu-born Faiz Subri hit a brace – netting in the third and 62nd minutes. His second was a beauty all the way when he “banana kick” freekick swerved into the right corner past a stunned Pahang goalkeeper Nasril Nourdin.
Penang were 2-0 up after nine minutes after Faiz opened scoring with a swift turn and planted a left footed shot past Nasril. The nightmare started for the Perak-born keeper.
He had to pick the ball from inside his net again when Mathias Cordoba fired a rising shot into the roof of the net after three Pahang players failed to check him just outside the penalty box.
New signing Osas Ikpefua came off the bench to add his name into the score-sheet putting the finishing touches with a leaping header from Fitri Omar cross from the left. Penang 4 Pahang 0
The Elephants broke the duck when Rizua Shafiqi found the target deep into injury time during four minutes of added time.
“Tonight we can smile. The two early goals gave us the confidence,” said Penang coach Jacksen Thiago after the match.
At the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar the Red Eagles edged Terengganu 1-0 with Carlos Kahe netting the winner in the 42nd minute. Kedah lost 2-0 to Felda United in their first match in Jengka.
Charity Shield winners and defending Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) registered a 2-0 win over T-Team (Terengganu FC II) at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak.
Former Pahang player Azamuddin Akil opened scoring in the 27th minute before Jorge Pereyra Diaz got the second on 58 minutes.
Kelantan edged Police 1-0 at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Bahru through a Dramane Troare goal in the 65th minute.
Sarawak suffered their second straight defeat when they were beaten 2-1 by Felda United at the State Stadium in Kuching. Zah Rahan Krangar (59th) and Francis Forkey Doe in injury time scored for Felda while Sarawak’s consolation goal from the penalty spot via Brazilian Juninho in the 69th minute.
Liberian international Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh was the toast of Selangor when he converted a 7th minute penalty for a 1-0 win over Selangor at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.
Meanwhile in the only Premier League match played on Tuesday at the Selayang Stadium plantation giants Sime Darby outplayed Armed Forces 3-0.
Super League Results (Feb 16)
T-Team 0 JDT 2
Penang 4 Pahang 1
Sarawak 1 Felda United 2
Kedah 1 Terengganu 0
Kelantan 1 Police 0
Perak 0 Selangor 1
Premier League (Feb 16)
Sime Darby 3 Armed Forces 0
