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| TIGHT … Shahrudin Yakup (red) is tackled by a Perak defender during their Super League tie at the Likas Stadium last night. |
Despite taking a first minute lead, Sabah ran out of steam in the later part of the game as they conceded three times in the second half.
Playing with an all-local side, the depleted Sabah started the game on a bright note when Zainizam Marjan headed home the opener after just about 70 seconds from the first whistle.
Although Akmal Rizal Rakhli could have put the visiting Perak side on level terms in the 16th minute when his free-kick from just outside the edge of the penalty box hit the goalpost, it was all a Sabah affair in the opening 45 minutes.
However, the host could not create any decent chances which eventually saw the half ending 1-0.
But after the break, Perak seemed to be a rejuvenated side by dominating play.
However, it was Sabah who had the first chance to extend the lead, but unfortunately, Md Rozaimi Abd Rahman failed to pass the ball to the unmarked Shahrudin.
Rozaimi could have given Sabah a 2-0 lead, but in the end, it was Perak who drew level when Akmal coolly slotted home a powerful grounder that put his side on level terms in the 65th minutes.
Two minutes later, an own goal by Mafry Balang put the visitors in the lead. The defender, in an attempt to clear the ball off a cross from Fahrul Razi Kamaruddin, saw his clearance hit the back of his own net.
In injury time, Lazar Popovic sealed Perak’s victory by chipping the ball pass the onrushing Syed Adney Syed Hussien, who was beaten for the third time.
It was learnt that, it was Lazar’s first and last goal for Perak, as the Perak FA has decided to replace him with a new signing on Monday.
LINE-UPS
SABAH: Syed Adney Syed Hussin, Mafry Balang, Md Reithudin Ag Emran, Sumardi Hajalan, Shahrul Azhar Ture, Zuraindey Jumai (Mohd Fariss Azlan Mat Isa), Radzi Mohd Hussin, Shahrudin Yakup, Md Rozaimi Abd Rahman (Jufrey Omopor), Zainizam Marjan, Bobby Gonzales (K. Thanaraj)
RESERVE: Irwan Jamil, Mohd Safuan Ibrahim, Jufrey Omopor, Sabri Sahar, Dendy Lowa
PERAK: Mohd Nasril, Mohd Sharom A. Kalam, Mohd Syazwan Roslan, Shahrul Nizam (Wan Hossen Wan Abd Ghani), Lazar Popovic, Muhd Nazri Mohd Kamal (Mohd Failee M Ghazali), Akmal Rizal Rakhli, Mohd Fazrul Hazli (Fahrul Razi Kamaruddin), K. Nantakumar, Mohd Noor Hazrul, Muhd Rafiuddin Roddin
RESERVE: Kamarul Effandi, Muhd Shafiq Jamal, Isma Alif Mohd Salim, Mohd Hisyamuddin
