Matchweek 8 of the 2021 Liga Super Malaysia season started off with a bang on Friday, as Terengganu FC managed to snap Kedah Darul Aman’s 4-game winning streak. Playing away at the Darul Aman Stadium, Terengganu went behind first in the first half before roaring back with two goals, prevailing 2-1 over their opponents.
Eager to make it five wins out of five, Kedah went straight for the offensive and the Red Eagles managed to take the lead in the 39th minute. A cross from Baddrol Bakhtiar for Kpah Sherman was inadvertently directed into the Terengganu goal by the Turtles’ defender Muhammad Faudzi, with goalkeeper Suhaimi Husin powerless to stop his own defender from scoring an own-goal.
However, just before the referee could blow the half-time whistle, Kedah defender Ariff Farhan Isa handled the ball within his side’s penalty box, leaving the referee no choice but to award Terengganu a penalty kick. Former Persebaya Surabaya striker David da Silva was entrusted with the spot kick and he did his assignment excellently, beating Shahril Sa’ari with a powerful shot that restored parity to the scoreline.
Having recovered from 1-0 down to win 2-1 away at Selangor FC last time out, Kedah received a dose of their own medicine in the 60th minute, after Azam Azmi Murad easily weaved his way through the Kedah defense before deceiving Shahril to give Terengganu the lead.
Kedah’s misery was compounded in injury time after both Fadzrul Danel and Rodney Celvin were sent off in quick succession, forcing the Red Eagles to finish the match with 9 men.
Matchweek 8 continues on Saturday with Kuala Lumpur City hosting Sri Pahang FC at the KLFA Stadium, while UiTM FC, who had rested head coach Frank Bernhardt after a catastrophic start to the season that saw the Lion Troops only earning one point in their first seven matches, are set to face-off against Melaka United at the UiTM Stadium. Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim will welcome traditional bogey team Petaling Jaya City to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, while last but not least Selangor are set to take on Perak FC at the Petaling Jaya Stadium.