A Felda United player (centre) shoot at goal during the 3-3 drawn match against Sarawak on Saturday. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The fight to avoid relegation hots up for Sarawak, as Felda United emerged runners-up of the Super League with a 3-3 draw against Sarawak in their 21st match of the season at Tun Abdul Razak Stadium, Jengka, Pahang on Saturday night.
The Crocs now face a tricky end as their draw against Felda United left them with 21 points, tied with PDRM and within reach of the relegation zone if they mess up in the final game of the season.
The result also meant Felda United qualifying for the AFC Cup 2017 along with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) which had earlier sealed the Super League title season by beating Terengganu 3-0 at Tan Sri Hassan Yunos Stadium in Larkin, on Sept 9.
JDT remain at the top with 55 points, while Felda United are in second with 43 points, with a game left to play.
Felda United started well with the opening goal scored by Gilberto Carlos Marangoni in the 18th minute, however they finished the first half 1-3, after Sarawak’s Tommy Mawat Anak Bada, Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin and Gilmar da Silva scored in the 22nd, 38th and 42nd minutes respectively.
In the second half, Felda United managed to rescue a point as goals from Zah Rahan Krangar (52’) and Lutfulla Turaev (89’) levelled the score.
Three-time Super League champions JDT marked a stylish 5-1 home win over T-Team, through goals from Mohd Amirul Hadi Zainal (5’), Martin Lucero (26’, 34’, 60’) and an own goal by Maiga Abdoulava Youssouf (‘47).
T-Team’s only goal was scored by Patrick Dos Santos Cruz in the 43rd minute.
Elsewhere, Pahang climbed two rungs from the bottom of the league standings with 20 points after defeating Penang 1-0 with a goal from Matthew Davies in the 12th minute at Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan.
However, the Tok Gajah squad still require to win their final game against T-Team on Oct 22 to remain in the Super League next season.
Losses by Penang and Terengganu on Saturday night also affected their chances to remain in the Super League next season, as they languish at the bottom of the league with 19 points a piece.
Terengganu will meet Penang at Penang City Stadium, while Sarawak will face off against the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) at State Stadium in Kuching in what is set to be a relegation scrap finale.
Meanwhile, Kedah claimed third place with 37 points after beating Terengganu 3-0 thanks to goals from Thiago Augusto Fernandes in the 13th and 80th minutes and Smetls Shane Edward in the 62nd minute at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak.
At the Shah Alam Stadium hosts Selangor lost following an error by their import player Ukah Ugochukwu of Nigeria, which resulted in a goal in 48th minute, gifting the three points to Perak. — Bernama