FELDA United extended their lead at the top of the Malaysia Super League (MSL) after a 4-0 win over PDRM at the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium (STAR) in Jengka, Pahang earlier tonight.
The Fighters head coach Irfan Bakti would be pleased with level of fitness of his players, as all four of his foreign players were handed a start and have been vital in winning three consecutive league matches. The ex-Selangor man even said that his men are capable of winning the league prior to the game. The Cops boss Fauzi Pilus traveled to Pahang without suspended defender Souleymane Konaté and Ali Ashfaq, who is suffering from an injury.
The home side kicked off the match with a number of fast-paced passes between the midfielders, which have been FELDA United’s biggest strength throughout the season.
Liberian midfielder Zah Rahan Krangar, who has been one of the best performers for FELDA United this season, delivered a beautiful cross in the box for Gilberto Alemao, who headed it down for Lutfulla Turaev to score on the 6th minute of the match. However, the goal was disallowed because the defender fouled PDRM goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli in the process.
Lutfulla Turaev was involved again after his left-footed attempt from outside the box was brilliantly parried out for a corner by the 18 year-old goalkeeper on the 12th minute. The initial play was started when team captain Shukor Adan intercepted the ball in midfield before releasing it to Francis Forkey Doe, who then played the ball (after a dummy from Shukor Adan) to the Uzbekistan midfielder as he saw his shot comfortably saved.
A few minutes later, Forkey Doe’s strength was enough to shrug K. Rueben off before the Liberian forward attempted a lob over Haziq Nadzli, which was cleared by Faizal Muhammad.
The league leaders deservedly opened the scoring on the 21st minute of the match when Francis Forkey Doe outsmarted Azrul Azman on the edge of the penalty box and he found Zah Rahan Krangar, who flicked the ball for Christie Jayaseelan, who tapped it in the goal.
Hadin Azman could have doubled his side’s lead after he was clean through from a smart pass by Zah Rahan Krangar, but Haziq Nadzli stood tall as he parried the shot away.
However, Lutfulla Turaev redeemed the ex-Johor Darul Ta’azim (JDT) winger’s miss when he scored a David Beckham-esque free-kick on the 27th minute of the league encounter. The midfielder played a vital role again as he lobbed the ball over Haziq Nadzli for Francis Forkey Doe to head home the third goal but the goal was not allowed as the Liberian was in an offside position. Ten minutes before half-time, the ex-Lokomotiv Tashkent player was in the heart of the play yet again after he headed Hadin Azman’s corner just above the crossbar.
The second half kicked off and the tempo of the game completely died off after the break.
The away side saw their first two shots on target in the opening ten minutes of the half when Khairul Izuan out-jumped Gilberto Alemao but his shot was comfortably saved by Farizal Harun, before Andrezinho found Safuwan Baharudin with a lovely through ball, but the Singaporean defender-cum-striker’s shot was brilliantly saved by Farizal Harun again.
Farizal Harun then made his third consecutive save in 15 minutes when he stopped Ahmad Nizam Rodzi’s free-kick from going in the back of the net on the 60th minute of the match.
Out of a sudden, Lutfulla Turaev popped out of nowhere to head Syahid Zaidon’s cross, which directed right in the chest of President Cup goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli on the 70th minute.
Lutfulla Turaev was on the receiving end of Ridzuan Abdunloh’s cross as he extended FELDA United’s lead with a powerful header on the 87th minute to score his second of the night. Francis Forkey Doe added a late fourth goal after a brilliant through ball from Lutfulla Turaev.
The referee blew the final whistle to indicate all three points to The Fighters.
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