Southeast Asia Malaysia

Amri Penalty Ensure Cops Remain Winless

Despite scoring an excellent opening goal in their Matchweek 6 encounter, Liga Super Malaysia basement dwellers PDRM FA remain winless this season after a penalty from Singaporean Khairul Amri forced the Cops to a 1-1 draw with FELDA United at the KLFA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night. The hosts, who started the season off with -3 points due to financial issues, were yet to win a game this season and with only 5 games remaining until the season’s end, they look to be set for a swift return to the second tier having being promoted last season.

Immediately PDRM started the match quite brightly, hitting FELDA on the counter early in the match only for Khairul Izuan’s long-ranged effort to veer off-course. That sets off the tone for the rest of the first half, with the Cops exchanging a number of chances with the Fighters, the latter relying on the likes of Amri and 20-year old striker Syahmi Zamri to threaten PDRM’s defense. Neither team could make their chances count though and the first half ended goalless, with two of the best chances of the first half being created by PDRM through Izuan in the 34th minute and Eskandar Ismail in the second minute of stoppage time.

PDRM went straight for the offensive in the second half and after beating FELDA’s offside trap, midfielder Eskandar outpaced the FELDA defense before beating FELDA goalkeeper Muhaimin Mohamad in a one-on-one battle to score the opening goal for his team in the 48th minute.

Now a goal down, FELDA almost mustered an immediate reply in the 51st minute, however Faiz Mazlan’s shot was punched away by PDRM goalie Willfred Jabun. However, the Fighters earned themselves a penalty in the 69th minute after Ryutaro Megumi was fouled by Serdar Geldiyew inside the area – the second match in a row that the Turkmen midfielder had costed PDRM a penalty. Amri, who had played alongside Ryutaro at Singaporean giants Tampines Rovers, stepped up to the plate to take the penalty and did so excellently, with the Singaporean’s powerful shot hitting Jabun’s gloves briefly before making its way into the PDRM goal.

FELDA had the chance to turn the match in their favor in injury time, however Akhmar Haiqal’s close-ranged shot was deflected away by Jabun. In the end, neither team were able to find that winning goal and both PDRM and FELDA were forced to share the spoils in the 1-1 draw. FELDA are now 9th in the Liga Super table with 6 points, while PDRM remain bottom with -1 point to their name.

Elsewhere, at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam, a costly mistake by Sharbinee Allawee enabled Rafie Yaacob to score the only goal of the game as hosts UiTM FC stun Pahang FA 1-0, while Kedah FA’s African duo Kpah Sherman and Kipre Tchetche once again combined together to power the Red Eagles to victory as they recover from being 1-0 down to win 2-1 over Petaling Jaya City at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar.