Penang will play their football trade in the lower tier Premier League next season after a 1-0 defeat to Perak at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh on Wednesday left them at the bottom of the Super League with only 12 points from 21 matches.
While the Panthers took the plunge after a two-year miserable stay in the elite Super League it was a different story in East Malaysia as Sarawak upset Malaysia Cup champions Kedah 4-2 at the State Stadium in Kuching.
The Crocs have been given some breathing space with the big win over the Red Eagles although they will need to beat T-Team at home in their last match on Oct 28 and hope for favours from Melaka.
Melaka pulled off a 2-1 win over Selangor at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka while Pahang came off 1-0 winners over T-Team at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.
Kelantan could only manage a point at the home when the Red Warriors shared the spoils with PKNS FC at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru. The East Coast side travel to Melaka for their last match.
The shock of the night was at the State Stadium in Kuching with Kedah taking a 2-0 lead in the first half and seemed to be cruising to an easy win. However, the Crocs were a completely different side after the break.
A brace by Croatian Mateo Roskam and one each by Nur Syamie Iszuan Amin and Hairol Mokhtar were bites too deep for the Red Eagles who had their wings clipped when international Baddrol Bakthiar was given the sack for a second yellow card.
Danish striker Ken Ilso and Baddrol scored for Kedah in the first half for a 2-0 lead.
Perak’s solitary strike against Penang came from Nizad Ayub.
Pahang got their winner against the T-Titans through their hot-shot Matheus Alves late in the second-half.
Pahang, with 39 points from 21 matches are now set to finish second with 39 points – behind champions JDT who have already clinched their fourth league title with 48 points. JDT play Felda United at Shah Alam Stadium on Thursday.
RESULTS (SUPER LEAGUE, WED 27 SEPT)
SARAWAK 4 KEDAH 2
T-TEAM 0 PAHANG 1
PERAK 1 PENANG 0
MELAKA 2 SELANGOR 1
KELANTAN 0 PKNS FC 0
