BOBBY NETS BRACE: Sarawak’s Bobby Gonzales (right) challenges for the ball during their Premier League match against UiTM FC at the Stadte Stadium in Petra Jaya last night. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: It was worth braving the cold and the rain for the Crocs’ adoring fans who came in the thousands to witness their home team convincingly trounced Premier League newcomer UiTM FC 5 – 0 at State Stadium, Petra Jaya last night.
Registering their first home victory in front of the estimated 20,000 fans, the Crocs were unstoppable in their quest to bag full points and Bobby Gonzales gladly put the homesters in the lead in the 4th minute.
The visitors almost scored at the start of the match but the shot from the left of the box hit the woodwork to save the Crocs from an early blush and in the counter offensive, the lethal combination of Bobby and fellow striker Ivan Babic did the job as planned.
Babic was instrumental in delivering the first goal through Bobby and put his own name on the score sheet with a superb goal in the 44th minute just before the breather.
The sluggish show by the visitors in the second half did not deter the Crocs from sticking to their guns and Joseph Tie Kalang played the brilliant role as the team’s mastermind with his skillful runs that outmaneuvered the hardworking opposing markers.
The Crocs were rewarded with their third goal in the 61st minute through Bobby who netted the ball in after UiTM FC goalkeeper Afiff Aizad Azman failed to clear the shot from the left and resulted in the rebound within the box.
Seven minutes later the home crowd went into a frenzy when Joseph scored the fourth goal during a corner kick which sent the visitor’s substitute goalkeeper wrong footed and the nippy winger did not miss his second chance at the goal.
Skipper Guy Bwele scored the fifth goal of the night in the 73rd minute also from a corner kick which resulted in a goal mouth melee and calmly he tucked it home to the delight of the roaring home crowd.
Last night’s goal galore was by far the biggest ever registered by the Crocs at home the past few years and home coming Bobby is presently the top scorer with three goals to his name while Babic is trailing close behind with two so far.
The two wins in the bag comfortably put the Crocs second in the Premier League table behind current leader PDRM who leads with two goals scored difference but the former defence is solid as a rock with just one goal conceded.