BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter
The top three positions remained the same after matchday ten of the Malaysia Super League (MSL) were played out last weekend.
On Friday, Kelantan couldn't continue their winning momentum, when they lost 2-1 at home to PKNP FC. It took until the 61st minute for the first goal to be scored, when Hafiz Ramdan scored for PKNP, his third goal in three consecutive matches and his third of the season. The hosts equalised in the 74th minute through a wonderful curler from outside the box by Imran Samso, but a misunderstanding between goalkeeper Fikri Che Soh and defender Cassio de Jesus six minutes from the end of fulltime, allowed PKNP skipper Shahrel Fikri Fauzi to steal the ball and slot in the winner. Following the result, the Red Warriors remained in eleventh place while PKNP remained in seventh.
Goals from the Kelantan vs PKNP match
Pahang fell further behind in the title race, after they lost 1-0 at home to Terengganu FC. A 62nd minute Faiz Nasir goal, from an assist by skipper Tchetche Kipre, was enough to separate the two East Coast sides. The Elephants dropped down to third, while the Turtles moved up to fifth.
Pahang vs Terengganu match highlights
On Saturday, league leaders JDT's six-match winning streak in the league was halted when they were held to a 2-2 draw away from home by Selangor. The visitors only needed two minutes to open the scoring, through Gonzalo Cabrera's goal. But it was the Red Giants' turn took the lead twelve minutes later, through two quickfire goals by Saiful Ridzuwan Selamat (14') and Spanish star striker Rufino Segovia (16'). The Southern Tigers eventually equalised thanks to new signing Novillo Christopher's 67th minute headed goal, but ultimately couldn't find the winning goal. JDT remained in first place, while Selangor moved up one place to eighth.
Selangor vs JDT match highlights
Perak in second however couldn't take the chance to close the gap, when their home match against Melaka United ended in a goalless stalemate. The hosts did most of the attacking, but were denied by the in-form visitors' new signing, Malaysia goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat. The Bos Gaurus held their second place, while the Mousedeers stayed just above the relegation zone following the draw. This was the first MSL match to end goalless since February 4, when Perak were held to a 0-0 draw by Pahang in Kuantan.
Perak vs Melaka United match highlights
On Sunday, PKNS FC managed to overcome Kuala Lumpur 3-2 at the Shah Alam Stadium. The visitors went in front just five minutes into the match, when Bobirjon Akbarov pounced on a rebound following a freekick. But the hosts equalised just three minutes later through Safee Sali's penalty, after the referee adjudged Faris Ramli to have been fouled inside the penalty area. Half an hour later, Faris turned goalscorer himself, finishing scintillatingly from a solo move. The Red Ants doubled their lead in the 51st minute, a penalty given for a handball that was then put away by Jonatan Acosta. Guilherme de Paula pulled one back for the Hawks deep in injury time, but they could not find the equaliser. PKNS moved up to fourth place, while Kuala Lumpur dropped down to ninth following the match.
Goals from the PKNS vs Kuala Lumpur match
In Seremban, last-placed Negeri Sembilan extended their winless streak to eight matches when they lost 2-1 to Kedah, their first match under new head coach Mario Lemos. The hosts went behind from first half goals by Liridon Krasniqi (8') and Akhyar Rashid (17'), but in the second half they came out fighting to pressure Kedah. Flavio Beck Junior helped the Deers pull one back through his 76th minute strike, but they couldn't find the equaliser. Negeri remained rooted in the bottom place, while Kedah are in sixth after the match.
Goals from the Negeri Sembilan vs Kedah match
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