KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 — A hat-trick by Cameroonian import Jerome Etame helped Kuching City FC secure a crucial 3-1 victory over Melaka FC in their Super League match at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka, last night. 

The Cameroonian emerged as the central figure for the visiting team, netting three goals in the 40th, 71st, and 87th minutes to ensure Kuching City brought home three valuable points and climb to second place in the league standings.

Both teams traded attacks from the start, with Melaka creating the first opportunity through Shahrel Fikri Fauzi in the fourth minute, though his shot missed the mark.

Kuching City then began to dominate play and nearly took the lead through Ronald Ngah in the 14th minute, but his attempt in front of the goal was not clinical.

Etame finally broke the deadlock with a free kick in the 40th minute to put Kuching City ahead before the end of the first half.

As the second half resumed, Melaka did not wait long to equalise, as Muhamad Umar Hakeem Suhar Rezwan executed a solo run before beating Kuching City goalkeeper Muhammad Haziq Nadzli in the 47th minute.

However, Etame put Aidil Sharin Sahak’s squad back in front in the 71st minute following an assist from Jimmy Raymond, before completing his hat-trick with a solo run after receiving a pass from Gabriel Tamin in the 87th minute.

With one match remaining this season, Kuching City now sits in second place with 50 points after 23 matches, just one point ahead of third-placed Selangor FC.

Kuching City is scheduled to host Kuala Lumpur City FC in their final league match at the State Stadium on May 17, while Selangor will face PDRM FC at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Peres emerged as the hero for Sabah FC, scoring a late penalty to ensure “Sang Badak” recorded a 1-0 win over Brunei representative DPMM FC in another match at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. — Bernama