PETALING JAYA: Selangor ended Pahang’s seven-match unbeaten home run with a narrow 1-0 win to take over at the top of the Super League.
Indonesian winger Andik Vermansyah was the hero, netting the winner in the 64th minute in front of a sell-out 35,000 crowd at the Darul Makmur Stadium on Saturday.
The win enabled Selangor to lead the standings with 31 points from 15 matches while overnight leaders Pahang dropped to second on 28 points.
Spurred on by the vociferous crowd, Pahang dominated the proceedings with Hafiz Kamal and Azidan Saruddin running the show in midfield.
Speedy wingers R. Gopinathan and Azamuddin Akil also provided the sparks down the flanks but poor finishing let them down.
Pahang’s best chance fell to Argentinian striker Matias Conti in the 14th minute but he was foiled by Selangor goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias.
Selangor, in contrast, were hardly in the game with Brazilian striker Paulo Rangel failing to make an impact in the first half. The Pahang defence, led by Jamaican Damion Stewart and skipper Razman Roslan, also did well to shut out the Selangor strike force.
But the Red Giants turned on the heat after the breather.
Nippy Andik was a constant thorn to the homesters. And it did not came as a surprise when he found the net. From a Rangel pass, Andik beat goalkeeper Mohd Nasril Nourdin from close range.
At the Shah Alam Stadium, Dutchman George Boateng won his first match as Kelantan coach when the east coast side strolled to a 2-0 win over PKNS FC thanks to goals from Wan Zaharulnizam Zakaria and Francis Doe.
Meanwhile, Sime Darby staged the comeback of the day when they battled back from two goals down to edge Sarawak 3-2 at the Selayang Stadium.
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