PETALING JAYA, Aug 21 – While seven-time Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) tightened their grip on winning eighth successive titles with a 2-0 win over Petaling Jaya City FC, Kedah FC put a big dent in Terengganu’s hopes of a second-place finish.
Kedah handed the Turtles a 2-1 defeat at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu – just a week after Terengganu beat Sri Pahang 2-0 at the same venue.
Rabih Ataya netted his first goal for Kedah deep into injury time in the first half following an assist from Syazwan Zainon.
The lead came after the homesters muffed scoring chances with David da Silva and Makan Kanote the main culprits.
Terengganu fell further behind six minutes after the restart. This time, Syazwan, who had a good game throughout turned scorer when he well timed his run for a first timer off Kipre Tchetche.
David Silva pulled one back for the Turtles on 69 minutes with his trademark booming freekick from 35 meters that Kedah custodian Ifwat Akmal could only watch.
JDT was not at its best against all-local side PJ City at the Petaling Jaya Stadium with goals scored by Bergson da Silva (26th) and substitute Mohamadou Sumareh (82nd) were enough to do the damage.
The Southern Tigers remained at the top with 48 points from 19 matches with Terengganu second on 37 points from the same number of matches.
Selangor FC is in third spot on 32 followed by Kedah also on 32. However, Kedah have played only 16 matches.
At the Perak Stadium in Ipoh, Selangor outplayed Perak FC 3-0Â with Nigerian Ifedayo Olusegun netting a brace in the 45th and 60th minutes (penalty).
He is currently the league’s top scorer with 22 goals followed by Bergson with a tally of 20.