KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 — Negri Sembilan Matrix have clinched the top spot of the Premier League after defeating Kuantan FA 3-1 at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan last night.

The squad under K. Devan opened scoring in the very first minute via Sharizal Mohd Saad, before import striker Francis Forkey Doe added another goal in the fifth minute.

The hosts pulled one back in the eighth minute through Milan Purovic but Forkey sealed the match for the visitors with a goal in the 71st minute.

Meanwhile, Penang capitalised on their homeground advantage to edge Kuala Lumpur 1-0 at City Stadium.

The solitary goal was scored by Kedah-born striker Mohd Faiz Subri in the 39th minute.

Last week’s league leaders, Johor Darul Ta'zim II (JDT II) failed to hold on to the top spot when they lost 1-3 to T-Team at the Sultan Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.

T-Team opened scoring in the 44th minute via Uzbek import, Farhod Tadjiyev from a penalty before he added another goal four minutes later.

The Southern Tigers’ only goal was netted by Argentine midlfielder Leandro Velazquez in the 71st minute but Norhakim Hassan added another goal for the hosts in 88th minute.

At the Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah blasted SPA Putrajaya FC 4-1 with goals from Zuraindey Jumai in the 29th minute, Leopold Alphonso Otong (31st) Eamon Zayed (48th) and Izuan Salahuddin (64th) while the visitors’ lone goal was scored by Raja Mohd Hafillah Raja Mahat in the 65th minute.

Earlier, Selangor PKNS FC had beaten Kedah 2-1 at the Petaling Jaya Municipality Stadium this evening.

Selangor’s goals came from Farderin Kadir in the 12th minute and Arip Amiruddin in the 89th minute before Syafiq Ahmad reduced the deficit for Kedah in the 90th minute.

UiTM FC failed to use their homeground advantage when they lost 1-3 to DRB Hicom FC at UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam.

The three goals for the visitors were contributed by Aris Zaidi in the eighth minute, Fakhrullah Rosli (22nd) and Croatian import, Ivan Babic (65th) while the only goal of the host team was netted by Abdi Kassim Sadallah in the 32nd minute. — Bernama