KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — Premier League leader Kedah failed to take advantage of playing on home turf after being held to a 1-1 draw by PKNS FC at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Star, last night.

However, the shock of the day was T-Team’s 1-4 loss to Johor Darul Ta’zim II (JDT) at the Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang Stadium in Johor Baru.

Despite the draw, Kedah with 35 points managed to open a two-point gap over T-Team with 33 points while Penang remained in third spot despite a surprise defeat to lowly Kuala Lumpur while PKNS FC clinched fourth spot after the one point earned.

In Alor Star, Kedah had to come from behind to snatch a point when PKNS FC’s Pedro Henrique put his team in the lead by the 21^st minute before Liridon Krasniqi equalised on the stroke of half time.

JDT were in cruise control right from the start with goals from Mohd Shafiq Shaharuddin (14^th min), Shahril Ishak (44^th min), Baihakki Khaizan (48^th min) and Mohd Akmal Ishak (61^st min) while T-Team’s new signing Tomislav Busic struck his team’s only goal in the 21^st minute. 

At the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, two goals from Francis Forkey Doe in the 49^th minute and 65^th minute from the penalty spot, gave NS Matrix a 2-0 win over Kuantan FA from Pahang.

In Tanjung Malim, Perak, DRB Hicom FC and UiTM FC played to a 1-1 draw at the Proton Stadium while SPA Putrajaya FC’s newly appointed coach Ken Worden from Australia immediately applied his Midas touch to guide SPA Putrajaya to their first victory in 16 matches by beating Sabah 3-0 at the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya Stadium in Kelana Jaya.

SPA’s three goals were scored by Rodion Sergeyevich Dyachenko (65^th min), Nor Azizi Azman (77^th min) and Khairul Azry Abdul Rahman (81^st in). — Bernama