Matchweek 3 of the 2021 Liga Super Malaysia season kicked-off on Friday with the first Northern Malaysia Derby of the season, where Kedah Darul Aman made the short trip down to the City Stadium in George Town to take on newly promoted Penang FC. Tomas Trucha’s Panthers once again displayed a creditable performance, however a late goal in the closing stages of the matches denied Penang victory as Kedah scraped themselves to a 1-1 draw.
Favorites Kedah were behind as early as the 11th minute after Brazilian midfielder Endrick had opened the scoring for Penang. Fellow Brazilian Casagrande managed to force the Kedah defense open after receiving a long lobbed ball from Quentin Cheng Jiun Ho and the striker tested goalkeeper Shahril Sa’ari with a shot, which the 31-year old shot-stopper managed to deflect away with his palms. However there was no saving Sa’ari from the rebound as Penang captain Endrick seized upon the loose ball and smashed home a powerful shot into the Kedah goal, giving the Panthers the lead.
The goal came as a surprising blow for Kedah, who at that point had dominated proceedings and threatened Penang goalie Samuel Somerville a number of times through their deadly African duo Kipre Tchetche and Kpah Sherman. The Red Eagles managed to command the game despite the wet, rain-soaked pitch of the City Stadium preventing Aidil Sharin Sahak’s men from implementing their usual short and quick passing game.
Both teams then exchanged blows after Endrick’s goal, with Kedah looking to level things up and Penang looking to kill off the game as soon as possible. A superb effort from outside the penalty area from Penang’s Tajikistan international striker Sheriddin Boboev went agonizingly wide in the 24th minute, before an excellent teamwork between Kedah players Rabih Ataya and Rozaimi Rahman was thwarted by Somerville in the 66th minute.
Penang almost put the game to bed in the 83rd minute only for Casagrande’s header to veer off-target, before the Panthers were made to rue for their inability to finish things off in the 87th minute. A cross from the right flank by Azamuddin Akil was met by a close-ranged knee strike from Sherman, which caught Somerville and a Penang defender by surprise as the ball pierced its way into the goal.
With the first Northern Malaysia Derby of the season ending in a stalemate, Matchweek 3 continues on Saturday with UiTM FC hosting defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam, Sabah FC entertaining Petaling Jaya City at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Melaka United taking on Sri Pahang FC at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Krubong, and the main event for the day – the Klang Valley Derby between Selangor FC and Kuala Lumpur City at the Petaling Jaya Stadium.