Opportunity: Penang’s Dylan Wenzel-Halls scoring against Negri Sembilan in the Super League match on Sunday. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Marking his home debut with a goal is indeed a special feeling.
Penang’s new Australian striker Dylan Wenzel-Halls experienced it at the City Stadium in Georgetown when he was one of the goalscorers in the 2-2 draw against Negri Sembilan in the Super League on Sunday.
The 26-year-old, who joined the Panthers from Central Coast Mariners, got his goal when he finished off a superb cross from midfielder Syamer Kutty Abba with a low-driven finish past Negri goalkeeper Aqil Abdul Razak in the 16th minute.
The other Penang goalscorer was Brazilian striker Rodrigo Dias, who scored in the 14th minute.
Negri took the lead as early as the first minute when Penang wingback Aqil Irfanuddin Sabri accidentally scored an own goal.
Italian midfielder Sebastian Avanzini scored the leveller in the 45th minute.
Wenzel-Halls is happy to net a goal in his home debut but wished they could have taken the three points.
“It is a special feeling to score my first goal at this historic stadium in front of our home fans, a goal I will always remember. A great team goal also, some great passing and build-up play and great assist from my teammate Syamer,” he said.
“We are disappointed not to take all three points, this is our mission every game, to take three points.
“Although we can take positives from this game, we scored two good team goals, we still collected a point and we are ready to move forward into our next game.”
Penang, coached by Akmal Rizal Rakhli, will travel to the Klang Valley for their next game when they take on Kuala Lumpur at the Cheras Football Stadium on Sunday.
Wenzel-Halls is indeed looking forward to the encounter as he will be taking on his good friend Giancarlo Gallifuoco, who is Kuala Lumpur’s star centreback.
“It will be nice to see a familiar face from Australia. Giancarlo is a great player. I’ve played against him a few times in Australia and the duels with him were always tough.
“My priority is to go there and put up a good performance and fight for Penang.
“I believe for our next game, we must stay more focused, from minute one to minute 90.
“This is important. We gain our captain (Rafael Vitor) back from suspension, so this will be a great boost also.”
Penang are currently ninth in the league with 11 points from 10 games.
