PETALING JAYA, Sept 22 – As expected it was the battle between Negeri Sembilan and Sarawak United for the Premier League title with the former crowned champions 4-2 win over Police in Paroi, Seremban while an understrength Sarawak United finishing with a 1-1 draw against JDT II in Larkin on Tuesday in their final league matches.
Negeri Sembilan topped the league with 41 points from 20 matches with Sarawak United second on 38 points. Both earned promotion to the elite Super League.
The curtain fell on Sarawak United after a 1-0 defeat to Negeri Sembilan at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras on Sept 10 in a bruising encounter that saw red card to Sarawak United’s goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee early in the match. Negeri Sembilan’s Francis Kone was also red carded in injury time.
Sarawak United were left crippled by a spate of suspensions and fines handed by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) Disciplinary Board for violent misconduct by their players and officials at the end of the match for alleged poor refereeing by Kamil Zakaria Ismail.
Putting that aside, Negeri Sembilan was not expected to lose at home against Police, even when skipper Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak missed a penalty in the second half.
Goals by R. Barathkumar, an own goal by Eskandar Ismail, Alain Akono and Fahmi Faizal were enough to do the damage for the title.
Police scored through G. Durkeswaran and Azrie Reza Zamri.
With the win, Negri Sembilan, ended a decade long wait for a silverware after winning the Malaysia Cup (2011) and the Charity Shield a year later.
For Sarawak United, the writing was on the wall after the spate of suspensions and fines, but head coach E. Elavarasan can take consolation that the Golden Hornbills will ply their football trade in the Super League.
“Disappointed” was all Elavarasan could say on missing the boat on the home stretch, adding that the 1-0 defeat to Kuching City in Pasir Gudang was the real turning point for his team’s slide.
Nevertheless it is a plus point for Elavarasan’s coaching career. Taking Sarawak United to promotion is the sixth team that gained promotion under his coaching.
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