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A step closer to top leaguecopied from RONNIE OH (the Star)
Photos (below) by ZAINUDDIN AHAD
A CHANGE of game plan enabled Selangor PKNS to stay on course in their bid for promotion to the nation’s top league.
They humbled Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) FC 3-0 in a Premier League clash at the Stadium USM on Monday.
PKNS, who needed a win to keep league leaders Felda United and Sabah within striking distance, seemed lost in the woods initially when the well-rested university outfit began attacking them from all directions, right from the first whistle.
USM FC, who also needed a win to haul themselves out of the drop zone, came out with their guns blazing.
The match was just seven minutes old when USM threaten to prise open the PKNS goal, with Mohd Kamal Azira latching onto a Nurqusyairi Chik pass to let fly a stinging left footer, only to find PKNS keeper Saiful Amar Sudar equal to the task.
Sliding tackle: Selangor PKNS player Mohd Hairul Nizam (on the ground) slides the ball from USM's Nurqusyairi Chik during the premier league match.
PKNS had a master tactician in coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, who analysed USM’s strength and weakness well during the game.
During the breather, he told his boys his new game plan.
The former national coach managed to douse the USM fire by having his PKNS charges orchestrate their attack from the flanks and his Selangor club side became a transformed team when they kicked off the second half.
Unlike the side that was made to look hapless in the first half, PKNS resumed the second half on the offensive.
It drew first blood with striker Mohd Alafi timing his jump well and after beating a sea of heads outside the USM goal, he glanced home a measured cross from P. Rajes.
That goal disorientated a shocked USM FC side.
Tango: PKNS player Mohd Fadhil (No 4) and USM's Muhammad Fauzan Zainal Abidin (in purple) battling for the ball.
USM FC coach S. Veloo in a desperate move, send in a local favourite player Mohd Baser Napae for Mohd Kamal in an effort to further strengthen their attack and rescue the match.
The move almost paid dividends, just two minutes after his introduction.
The fleet footed striker had the word “equaliser” written all over his face when he dashed past the entire PKNS defence to meet a through ball from Elias Sulaiman in the 54th minute.
But with only the goalkeeper to beat, Mohd Baser shot straight into the advancing keeper to the horror of the USM bench.
This inspired the PKNS side, who went on to double their lead in the 70th minute when Fairus Montana finished off a move initiated by Mohd Azrif Nasrulhaq with a well placed volley.
It was all over when PKNS delivered the third blow just six minutes later with Mohamad Zamri firing home from an acute angle after blazing his way down the left flank and finishing with a cracker of a shot.
As Sabah handed Armed Forces a 2-1 defeat at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, this allowed PKNS to take over the third spot from the army side.
With 33 points from 10 wins and three draws after 16 outings, PKNS is now five points adrift of leaders Felda United and two points behind second placed Sabah.
For USM FC, the defeat meant they stay rooted in the drop zone, gathering only 12 points from three wins and three draws after 16 outings.
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