* Kedah defeat T-Team 2-0 in K. Terengganu
* Penang lose ground after defeat to PKNS FC
* Sabah suffer shock home defeat
Kedah inflicted a painful 2-0 defeat on T-Team at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu on Tuesday – to surge to the top of the Premier League after 15 matches.
In the first round both teams played out a scoreless draw at the Darulaman Staidumin Alor Star.
It was T-Team’s only second defeat in the league this season. Kedah struck two second-half goals through Sandro Da Silva (47th minute) and Farhan Rozlan (61st). The win is a huge boost for Red Eagles as the league takes a three-week break for Hari Raya.
T-Team had gone into the match as favourites, more so when they were playing at their favourite home ground but instead the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium turned out to be a pain.
The Titans resumed their league campaign without their influential Nigerian centre back David Oniya after a six-week break for the SEA Games and international assignments for the national team.
The Nigerian died on June 13 in Kota Bahru after he collapsed on the field during a friendly match against Kelantan. He later died at the hospital. On Monday the FA of Malaysia (FAM) gave T-Team the green light to register a new foreign player.
Kedah now lead the table with 34 points – one more than T-Team – after 15 matches as the promotion battle hots up. Penang were expected to challenge for a top two place in the 12-team league.
However, the Panthers suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat to PKNS FC at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malacca.
Penang are lying third with 29 points while PKNS and Sabah are fourth and fifth on goal difference with 26 points each. Sabah also suffered a shock 3-2 defeat at the hands of UiTM FC at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu.
Abdi Kassim Sadallah (13th), Julien Mbon (55th) and Shafiq Mothar (68th scored for UiTM FC while El Hadji Diouf (57th) and Eamon Zayed (90th) netted for the homesters.
PKNS rode on a brace by Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh (47th and 52nd) and one by Gabriel Guerra (76th) for the surprise win over Penang at Hang Jebat. Penang’s scorer was Elias Sulaiman who struck in added time in the first half and second half.
Johor Darul Takzim II skipper Shahril Ishak struck the winner in the 67th minute for a 1-0 win over Kuantan FA at Kuantan’s Darul Makmur Stadium.
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS (JULY 7)
T-Team 0 Kedah 2
PKNS FC 3 Penang 2
Sabah 2 UiTM FC 3
N.Sembilan 1 SPA Putrajaya 1
Kuantan FA 0 JDT II 1
