KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — Malacca United came from behind and in a three-minute flurry edged closest rivals Kuala Lumpur 2-1 at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malacca last night to keep their lead in the Premier League.
The visitors dubbed the “The City Boys” had taken the lead in the first minute through their Brazilian import Anselmo Arruda da Silva.
However, the Sang Kancil only needed three minutes to claim victory when their Montenegro import Ilija Spasojevic and Jasmir Mehad scored in the 27th and 30th minutes respectively.
With the result, Malacca United widened their gap from second-placed Negri Sembilan by three points, amassing 21 points in nine matches.
Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan have 18 points each, but Negri have a better goal difference.
Negri Sembilan shot up to second place thanks to their Australian import trio who helped The Deer to a 3-1 victory against Perlis at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi.
Alexander Moreton Smith put the hosts in the lead in the 37th minute before Taylor Francis Regan made it two up two minutes later.
Liberian import Edward Junior Wilson brought some hope to the Northern Lions two minutes before half-time but Joel Chianese Joseph sealed victory for their hosts with their third goal in the 68th minute.
The match also had to be stopped in the 13th minute because the floodlights on one tower malfunctioned. Play resumed 32 minutes later.
At Stadium UiTM, Shah Alam, PKNS FC demolished UiTM FC 3-0 to secure fourth spot in the table, thanks to their Argentinian imports.
Juan Manuel Cobelli got himself a brace with his goals coming in the 52nd and 62nd minute before Gabby Guerra added to the opponents misery with the third in the 67th.
Elsewhere, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) II edged Sabah 1-0 at the Likas Stadiun, Kota Kinabalu; Kuantan FA beat Sime Darby FC 4-2 at the Darul Makmur Stadium, Kuantan; DRB Hicom blitzed Armed Forces 4-0 at Stadium Proton, Tanjung Malim. — Bernama
