Azlan hat-trick propels Kedah to summit

AZLAN Ismail claimed the first hat-trick of the new 2010 Super League season as he powered Kedah to the top of the league standings with a 3-0 win over Johor yesterday.

Kedah were off to a fine start under new coach Ahmad Shafie after Azlan scored twice in the last 10 minutes to add to his opener from a freekick in the 32nd minute.

But title contenders Kelantan will be disappointed to drop two points after being held 0-0 by Terengganu, for whom national goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee Ramli was the hero after denying Hairuddin Omar and Indra Putra Mahayuddin with crucial saves at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.

Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Terengganu T-Team also drew 1-1 at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras with Raimi Md Nor scoring on his debut for KL after a goalmouth scramble four minutes before half-time.

Khairul Anuar Shafie should have scored KL’s second in the 70th minute with only Syamsuri Mustafa to beat but the ball rolled wide as he tried to slot in between the goalkeeper’s legs.

KL were duly punished for the miss six minutes later when last year’s Premier League top scorer Haris Safwan Kamal equalised for T-Team with an angled shot which beat KL keeper Remezey Che Ros at his near post.

Azwan Malek missed a golden opportunity to claim the win for KL in the 82nd minute when his attempt from six metres out hit the cross bar with Syamsuri well beaten.

Pahang came from a goal down to beat Perak 2-1 at the Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan after Nazri Kamal gave the visitors the lead with a penalty in the 22nd minute after Khalis Ibrahim was brought down.

Pahang were level nine minutes later when Sharizam Salleh’s curling freekick caught Perak custodian Megat Amir Faisal Ibrahim off-guard before Azammuddin Akil capitalised on a mix up in the Perak defence to score the winner four minutes after the break.

Johor FC, a side with title winning ambitions, edged Perlis 1-0 at the Utama Stadium in Kangar with Riduwan Ma’on getting the winner with a drive from outside the penalty box in the 61st minute.

The honour of the first goal of the 2010 Super League went to Penang’s Failee Ghazli who netted in the second minute against KL Plus at the Petaling Jaya.

But KL Plus turned the match around with three goals in the second half to run out 3-1 winners. — NST