Kelantan down Penang for first win of season as Brendan saves Red Giants the blushes

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- Super League newcomers Kelantan notched their first win of the season when they beat Penang 2-0 at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Bharu tonight in a match that saw both teams being reduced to 10 men each.

Two first-half goals - a header by striker Ismaheel Akinade in the 21st minute and a screamer by midfielder Muhamad Fazrul Amir in the 35th minute - were enough for coach Choi Moon Sik’s Kelantan side to take all three points after losing their first two matches.

However, the match was marred by the sending-off of Kelantan defender Christian Rontini for a second bookable offence and Penang substitute Hassan Saad two minutes later for a foul.

Penang nearly reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute but Narcizo Adriano’s freekick hit the bar and the Red Warriors managed to see the visitors off comfortably after that.

Meanwhile, Selangor skipper Brendan Gan’s late header secured his team a 1-1 draw with Sri Pahang at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Stadium today.

The Elephants had earlier gone ahead in the 74th minute. Sri Pahang's Stefano Brundo's shot from the penalty spot was pushed away by Selangor goalkeeper Mohd Khairulazhan Mohd Khalid but the defender was quickest to pounce on the loose ball and squeeze it home.

Referee Fitri Maskon had awarded Sri Pahang the penalty when Selangor defender Sharul Nazeem Zulpakar fouled Muhammad Baqiuddin Shamsuddin in the box. 

Luckily for coach Tan Cheng Hoe, his Red Giants never gave up and were rewarded with the equaliser when Brendan headed home a free kick in the 88th minute.

The one point earned from the draw not only allowed Cheng Hoe to maintain his unbeaten record since taking over as Selangor coach at the end of last September but also enabled the Red Giants to move to the top of the standings with seven points as the Elephants occupy fifth spot with five points.

Over at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Nerus, home team Terengganu bagged their first point of the season after holding Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC to a 0-0 draw. 

-- BERNAMA