Premier League: Jacob bags hat-trick to spark K'tan United fightback against Perak

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Kelantan United FC narrowed the gap on Premier League leaders Kelantan FC to three points when they bounced back from two goals down to edge Perak FC 3-2 at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh tonight.

The dramatic win was made all the more sweeter for Nigerian striker Njoku Jacob, who bagged a hat-trick to inspire Kelantan United to their second straight win after defeating UiTM FC on Saturday (April 23).

The win in Ipoh puts Kelantan United, under the guidance of head coach Syamsul Mohd Saad, in third spot with 12 points and just three behind Kelantan and second-placed Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) II, who both have 15 points after six matches.

In tonight’s match, Perak began brightly to draw first blood through striker Aqil Hilman Daniel Roslan as early as in the fourth minute before defender Muhammad Nazmi Ahmad doubled their lead in the 11th minute.

However, Kelantan United hit back with two goals in four minutes when Jacob found the net in the 20th and 24th minutes to restore parity.

Jacob then struck the winning goal - and his hat-trick - in the 88th minute when he converted a penalty to hand Perak their fifth defeat in six matches.

Meanwhile, Terengganu FC (TFC) II capitalised on their home ground advantage to beat UiTM FC 2-0 in another Premier League match at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.

After a goalless first half, the home team finally broke the deadlock through Jordan Mintah in the 64th minute before Argzim Redzovic added the second two minutes later.

The defeat was UiTM’s fifth in a row and drops them to ninth spot in the 10-team standings while TFC II moved up to fourth with 10 points from five matches.

-- BERNAMA