MSL: Selangor and JDT lead the season so far

Photo by Bharian.com.my

After a 1-1 stalemate with JDT in the first game of the season, Selangor have picked themselves very well by winning three games in a row: 1-0 win against Perak, 3-1 win against Pahang and 4-2 win over Sarawak. Patrick Wleh has finally showcase his talent that Selangor fans has been waiting for and currently the league top goalscorer with 5 goals.

The defending league champions, JDT have no trouble so far, winning three consecutive games with 2-0 win against T-Team, 2-0 win against Terengganu and 2-1 win over Felda United. Despite the results, The Southern Tigers have yet to impress the media and fans particularly in a game against Felda, how they have ultimately failed to break Felda's attacking movement as well as defensive line before the Fighters unable to hang on to the lead after going down to 10 men. Work is still in progress.

They were followed by Felda who, other than the JDT defeat, have done well by picking up 9 points against Kedah, Sarawak and T-Team. Felda's current standing is largely contributed by the performances from Zah Rahan Krangar, Hadin Azman and Lutfulla Turaev who have scored six goals between them. Kedah on the other hand, recovered from opening day defeat to Felda by collecting seven points against Terengganu, Perak and Kelantan.

Terengganu, Penang, Kelantan and PDRM shared mixed results between them. Terengganu have two wins and two defeats, while Penang, Kelantan and PDRM have tasted win, draw and defeat. But among them, the one who shines so far is Ali Ashfaq with 3 goals under his belt so far. Not to mention Baze Illijoski, Faiz Subri, Matias Cordoba, Osas Saha and Amirul Syahmi who have been superb in the league.

The same can't be said for Perak, T-Team, Sarawak and Pahang. They have yet to register a single win in the league so far and could be soon fighting for relegation if they failed to improve in the later stages. Some of the teams have to improve in terms of attacking and some have to improve in terms of defending. Perak amazingly conceded only two goals, the least number of conceded goals so far alongside JDT, yet only scored once. T-Team have scored three goals but concede seven goals while both Sarawak and Pahang have scored five goals but conceded 9 and 11 goals respectively.

The league actions will return on Friday, March 11 between Terengganu and Selangor while other matches will be played on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13.

Watch Faiz Subri super goal!

It's Tuesday. It's the second matchday of Malaysia Super League. Faiz Subri is getting ready to take his free-kick. The Penang fans in Bandaraya Stadium are waiting eagerly. He has scored the first goal and his team are currently 2-0 up against Pahang. Once the ref blew the whistle, he kick the ball which went straight to the left hand side of the Pahang goalpost. The ball seemed easy to handle by the goalkeeper. But then something unimaginable happened. The ball suddenly swing to the right side of the goalpost and the ball went straight in.

Nasril Nourdin who was supposed to catch the ball, dumbfounded. He knees on the ground, as if he is saying "What did I just saw?" Faiz celebrates. His teammate celebrate the goal with him. Penang fans went nuts. It was a great goal indeed. The news of the goal spread around the world and Faiz became instantly popular. That goal made him famous, with large amount of media outlet around the world trying to interview him and Penang wanted to auction his kit that was worn on that day. There are lot's of talks about him winning the Puskas award.

Faiz is a very low profile footballer who is having such a very average career. After he spent four years with Kedah youth team, he moved to a new team every year. Perlis, T-Team, Kelantan and Terengganu before he moved down to second division and signed with Penang. From then on, he became an integral part for the Northern Malaysian side. He was largely unknown until he scored this goal. That goal changed everything. If not Puskas Award, his goal could definitely won the goal of the month and goal of the season. It will be a legendary goal for years to come.


                  

MSL 2016 match day 1: Between the hype and reality

Photo: Official photo Bharian

Malaysian fans were promised six live MSL matches this season. With the highest quality. Yesterday, there were only two live matches on Media Prima channel, TV3 and TV9. The quality of the production is, shocking. So was the quality of the games. The broadcast live caused some pain in the eyes. The pitch is pixelated. The quality level is probably lower than 240p (a reference to a quality of Youtube video), it is just horrifying. To add more pain, the performance of the team is just rubbish. There is just too many misplaced passes, bad crosses, lack of clear-cut chances and a very poor, poor finishing. As if they are not ready to play a competitive game at all. Hope to see an improvement from both TV production team as well as the team performance in the next few weeks.

I did that because I love you, JDT.

JDT 1-1 Selangor (JDT won the Piala Sumbangsih 7-6 on penalties)

JDT and Selangor struggled to break the defence. Their attackers were running out of idea. Both team had to score through set-pieces. JDT scored through Harris Harun who headed the ball from Safiq Rahim's free-kick just before the half-time. JDT dominated the game and there's almost no room for Selangor to attack but handed a set-back as Hafiz scored with a stunning free-kick that went straight to the right side of the net to make it 1-1. The match can only be decided through penalty shoot-out. There are times when JDT have the upper hand, with Olivi and Gopi missed their penalties and there are times Selangor have the chances, with Diaz and Azamuddin missed it. The longer this went on, the higher the pressure will be on for the penalty taker. In the end, it was Azrif Nasrulhaq, who allegedly has signed for JDT without the consent of his team, and even professes his love to play for JDT, missed his penalty, ultimately handed the Piala Sumbangsih to JDT. It was such an unexpected and extraordinary ending to the game.

Do you want to make Qu Puteh trademark as your default face? Click Yes.

Perak 0-0 Kelantan

Let's see, the most entertaining thing in this game is none other than Dato Seri Vida sitting on the bench alongside an uncomfortable Kelantan coaching staff. Photos of her smiling and doing a Qu Puteh trademark circulating in the social media like a wildfire, prompting funny memes and critical response from the fans. The game is a forgettable one, as it is probably one of the worst opening MSL game of all time. Very few goalmouth actions as both team struggle to break the opposition defence. Perak have a fair chance to win the game through Erick Weeks and Vokhid Shodiev, but too often missed the golden chance when presented to them. While Kelantan can only cut the defence through Dramane Traore while others unable to spark anything in the game. It proved how Kelantan missed the presence of their captain marvel, Piya, which is the brain and the creator of the goal for his team. Devan need to put Piya back to the team in the upcoming game or else he will be in trouble.

Terengganu 1-0 Penang

In front of huge crowd in Kuala Terengganu, Gustavo Lopez's goal proved to be the winner as the recently promoted side Penang unable to find the ultimate equaliser until the end of the game, meaning that The Turtles picked up the first 3 points of the season.

Felda United 2-0 Kedah

Kedah is a strong favourites to win the game but struggled playing on an artificial pitch, different for The Fighters who have presumably adapted well with their new home. As a result, Felda took an early lead through new signing Lutfulla Turaev with a stunning goal from the edge of the box and added another goal through a penalty from Zah Rahan Krangar.

PDRM 1-0 Sarawak

Sarawak is brimming with confidence coming into this game, with new coach K. Rajagobal, as well as several new signings such as K. Gurusamy, Juninho, Gilmar and Ndumba Makeche but were left hard done in the end as they beaten by weakened PDRM side who won with a solitary goal by Ali Ashfaq after a brilliant flick from his teammate found Ali who sent the goalkeeper to the wrong way.

Pahang 2-2 T-Team (TFC II)

It's fair to say that both team begin the season as a brand new team. Almost all of Pahang key players left the team, with only several players staying such as Matthew Davis, D. Saarvindran and Zesh Rehman. While T-Team came as a newly promoted side through a play-off ticket strengthened by new coach Rahmad Darmawan and several new signings such as Ramzul Zahini Adenan, Makan Konate and Abdoulaye Maiga. The Elephant Army took an early lead through Dalibor Volas who took the chance to score when T-Team defenders failed to clear the ball away. Minutes later, the bad boy Saiful Nizam Miswan or popularly known as Poyeng was sent off after committing two bookable offence as Pahang down to 10 men. Having the numerical advantage, T-Team used most of their chances as they equalised through Safawi Rashid in the 71 minute. T-Team added Pahang misery as they scored another goal through Izzaq Faris Ramlan who came off the bench to finish off the counter-attack as Nasril Nourdin completely left his goalpost and unable to prevent Izzaq from scoring in the 88 minute. Is that a winning goal? (a reference to FM commentary). To T-Team surprise, new signing German Pacheco scored a brilliant free-kick from way outside of the penalty box to make it 2-2, thus making sure that they are picking up a point in the first matchday of the season.