Sunday, March 10, 2013

Ten men Selangor demolished mega-rich Johor DT

Selangor proved money can't buy success as they easily overcome The Southern Tiger despite playing with 10 men to secure one of the biggest result this season

The Red Giants proved too strong for the visitors as they crushed title rivals Johor DT 4-1 in an exciting encounter at Shah Alam Stadium.

Selangor lining up Peter Chrappan in the starting eleven as a replacement for the banned Ramez Dayoub, released by The Red Giants last week while Adib Abdul Latif get the nod ahead of captain Asrarudin Putra.

Johor DT lining up almost an unchanged line-up with Muslim Ahmad sitting on the bench this time and captain Safiq Rahim back in the starting eleven after injury absence.

Selangor have an early lead through S. Kunanlan with a fluke goal in the 4th minute.

The home side doubled their lead this time through Francis Forkey Doe who scored in a close range finish with Johor DT goalkeeper Zamir Selamat failed to hold the ball that went straight into the net.

With Johor DT falling behind again with two goals, they should have think to tighten the defence more or change the tactical approach during half-time interval but Fandi Ahmad thought otherwise when he decided to change current keeper Zamir Selamat with sub keeper Al-Hafiz Hamzah, believed that both conceded goals was at Zamir's fault.

It is as if similar script in the first half continued in the second half as Johor DT did not do enough to creates chances and threaten their opposition while the home side looked as lively as ever. It was not until ten minutes after the restart that new Selangor centre-back Peter Chrappan collected a second yellow card as he fouled Johor DT striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha at the edge of the penalty box.

It should be a huge advantage for the away side when Selangor have one man down, but things just didn't went their way.

Instead, Selangor keep marching on, and they did so in 66th minute when the unlikeliest goalscorer Mahalli Jasuli dribbled past Johor DT's defence before releasing the shot to the back of the net. It was superb effort and Mahalli would be delighted with his playing display.

The home side were not yet satisfied as they got another goal in the 69th minute courtesy from a delightful pass from Forkey Doe who finds an unmarked Amri Yahyah who slotted the ball easily to the bottom right corner of the net to make it 4-0.

Norshahrul Idlan Talaha gave Johor DT the only consolation goal in the 75th minute by dribbling past Selangor defender before unleashing the ball past Norazlan Razali.

Following the win over Johor DT, Selangor were up to second place, tied on 18 points with league leaders ATM only separated by goal difference.

Despite a heavy defeat, Johor DT still very much close with league leaders ATM, with only two points separated them but The Southern Tiger will have to content with fourth place, behind Lions XII, Selangor and ATM.

Man of the Match: Mahalli Jasuli