* JDT II ride on a hattrick by Shafiq to whip SPA Putrajaya 5-1
* Forkey Doe brace gives N. Sembilan victory
* World Cupper Diouf inspires Sabah
Senegalese World Cupper El-Hadji Diouf played another inspiring role for Sabah as the East Malaysians came from behind twice to beat a gritty DRB-Hicom 3-2 for their second win in the Premier League at the Likas Stadium on Friday.
Diouf, who had a colourful history playing in the English Premier League, including stints with Liverpool, Leeds United and Sunderland put Sabah back on track with the equaliser in the 18th minute to wipe out DRB-Hicom’s third minute lead through Ivan Babic.
The visitors were back in front on 21 minutes through a goal by Fakhrullah Rosli but Sabah made it 2-2 with Azizan Nordin getting his name into the scoresheet. The home fans celebrated again four minutes later when Shafuan Adli Shaari found the net and it turned out to be the winner and full points
At the Petaling Jaya Stadium in Kelana Jaya, SPA Putrajaya were hit for another five – this time losing 5-1 to strong contenders Johor Darul Takzim II. Putrajaya had lost by the same margin to Kedah in their opening match last week.
Shafiq Shaharuddin, son of former international Shaharuddin Abdullah, fired a hattrick for JDT’s second win in as many matches. Shafiq, whose exploits on the pitch could earn him a call-up to the Singapore SEA Games squad, got his goals in the 45th, 64th and 81st minutes while Argentine imports Leandro Velasquez (34th) and Nicolas Delmonte (78th) completed the scoring. Putrajaya’s Chukwubunna netted from the spot in injury time.
Negri Sembilan, under coach K. Devan, also kept their winning ways with a 2-0 win over UiTM FC at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi. A brace by Liberian international Francis Forkey Doe – no newcomer to the M-League, having donned Terengganu (2012), Selangor (2013) and Kelantan (2014) colour before – in the 40th and 81st minutes was enough for their second win. In the first match Negri defeated DRB-Hicom 3-1.
However, Kedah were jolted by newcomers Kuantan FA at the Darul Mamur Stadium in Kuantan with a 2-2 draw despite leading 2-0 after only only nine minutes of play. Kedah’s Liberian import Keith Nah opened scoring after three minutes and skipper, international Baddrol Bakhtiar got the second.
Kuantan FA reduced the deficit in the 20th minute and Milan Purovic (33rd) got the equaliser for a share of the spoils in a match Kedah were expected to ride on their 5-1 thrashing of SPA Putrajaya in the opening match for another win.
Former greats Kuala Lumpur pulled off an upset with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the much touted PKNS FC at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam. PKNS took the lead through Argentine defender Gonzalo Soto after 33 minutes but the City Boys hit back through their foreign imports Kalle Sonne (48th) and Choi Hyun-yeon (61st).
Penang were a disappointment in their scoreless draw against Terengganu outfit T-Team at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS (Feb 13)
SPA Putrajaya 1 JDT II 5
T-Team 0 Penang 0
Sabah 3 DRB-Hicome 2
N.Sembilan 2 UiTM FC 0
Kuantan FA 2 Kedah 2
K.Lumpur 2 PKNS FC 1
Photo by Kamarul Akhir / mohammad soffi / www.asiana.my
