Sports & Fitness

Super League: dramatic end as Deers triumph 2-1 over PDRM

Negri Sembilan FC secure three points at PJ City Council Stadium tonight

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 18 May 2023 11:54PM

Super League: dramatic end as Deers triumph 2-1 over PDRM — PDRM FC’s Nabil Ahmad Latpi (centre) and Negri Sembilan FC’s Tommy Mawat (left) at the Super League match between the two squads at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium tonight. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, May 18, 2023

by Saktesh Subramaniam

KUALA LUMPUR – A dramatic end to the fixture between PDRM FC and Negri Sembilan FC (NSFC) saw The Deers secure three points at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium.

It was all square until the 40th minute when Muhammad Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi gave NSFC the lead heading into the second half.

PDRM struggled to get shots on target in the second half, but Muhammad Amirul Wa’ie Ya’acob equalised in the 90th minute to keep his side afloat as the clock ticked down.

But it was not enough for PDRM as NSFC substitute A. Selvan scored a stunning volley in injury time to give his team the winning goal, leaving PDRM to suffer their fifth straight loss in the Super League.

PDRM’s Nabil Ahmad Latpi (left) and the Deers’ Nasrullah Hanif (right) in action during tonight’s intense match. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, May 18, 2023

After the match, PDRM head coach Azzmi Aziz admitted that his men needed more work to improve on their current poor form.

“It is still the same problem in the team where the players need to learn more because there isn’t enough quality.

“I know the players are trying, it is the 11th game of the season, and we can see ourselves improving.

“NSFC were good today, but we also feel that we can compete with them. We need to look ahead and narrow down on what we need to fix and improve,” he said.

PDRM are currently 10th in the Super League table after 11 games, with just three wins, a draw and seven losses so far.

Import players Casagrande (right) of Negri Sembilan FC FC and PDRM’s Jacque Faye’s (left) actions and expressions on the field. NSFC wins 2-1 with a dramatic ending to the match. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, May 18, 2023

Azzmi added that the squad is lacking finishing power and hopes the club’s management will look into bringing in new faces to play in the striker’s position.

“We have the chances but just can’t seem to convert them. The issue is we are not sharp in front of goal so I hope the management will look into the team’s frontline,” he said.

Meanwhile, NSFC head coach K. Devan was relieved his side scored a late winner but noted that his team played a good match, and the win was theirs for the taking.

“I think we deserve the win today. We were well organised in this match, our defence was quite compact, and we controlled the ball with more attacking chances.

“We had a few chances in the last 15 minutes of the match, but I think we were also pressured and that gave PDRM the chance to equalise,” he said.

The match ends with 1-2 on the score board with PDRM FC losing on their home turf and Negri Sembilan FC securing three points for the Super League. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, May 18, 2023

The win today puts NSFC in sixth position with 16 points, ahead of Kuala Lumpur City FC in seventh and below Kedah FC in fifth.

For their next fixture against Kelantan United FC at home, Devan said the team will be gunning to get full points, while PDRM will be travelling to Kelantan to take on Kelantan FC. – The Vibes, May 18, 2023