Newly-promoted Penang FC continued their excellent Liga Super Malaysia campaign after they had thrashed Terengganu FC 4-1 at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Terengganu on Saturday’s Matchweek 11 game. A brace from Casagrande and goals from Endrick and Sheriddin Boboev were enough for the Panthers to overcome the challenge of the Turtles, and ensure that Tomas Trucha’s men would finish the matchweek in third place in the league table.
Tajikistan international Sheriddin opened the scoreline for Penang in the 8th minute with a confident header that left Terengganu goalkeeper Suhaimi Husin stranded, before the Panthers’ advantage was doubled in the 21st minute. Husin had thwarted a Casagrande header with his gloves however Sheriddin managed to seize upon the rebound and fired a shot from point blank-range, with Endrick tapping the shot into the goal with his head.
Having scored the decisive goal that ended Johor Darul Ta’zim’s unbeaten run in the Liga Super the previous matchweek, Hakimi Abdullah once again struck for Terengganu in the 59th minute, blasting in a powerful cannonball from the edge of the area that blazed past Penang goalkeeper Bryan See Tian Keat on its way in, providing Terengganu with the lifeline that they needed in this match.
However, Brazilian striker Casagrande soon tore that lifeline into shreds shortly afterwards, seizing upon a cross from Quentin Cheng Jiun Ho with a thumping header that left Husin beaten for the third time on the night in the 65th minute before sealing his brace in the 68th minute with another header, this time benefitting from a cross made by Danial Ashraf.
The heavy defeat meant that Terengganu, who had a chance of matching league leaders JDT’s points tally with a win, were instead kicked down to 4th place by Penang, who climbed up to third.
Saturday’s other Matchweek 11 match also saw goals galore being put in display, this time by Sri Pahang FC who obliterated bottom side UiTM FC 5-0 at the Darul Makmur Stadium. Lee Tuck blasted home after one minute before Pedro Henrique made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. UiTM captain Victor Nirennold then squandered a chance to reduce the deficit with a missed penalty in the 61st minute, before the Tok Gajah proceeded to open the floodgates – Baqiuddin Shamsudin made it 3-0 in the 66th minute before Herold Goulon perfectly executed his own penalty in the 70th minute. Fahmi Sabri’s 72nd minute own goal completed a miserable night for the Lion Troops in Kuantan.
Matchweek 11 concludes on Sunday with a Selangor Derby between Petaling Jaya City and Selangor FC at the Petaling Jaya Stadium and Sabah FC hosting Perak FC at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu.