Darul Takzim left stunned by Pahang

By ESPNSTAR.com staff

Having splashed the cash during the off-season to bring in several Malaysia internationals including Safiq Rahim, Safee Sali and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, as well as marquee foreign signings Dani Guiza and Simone Del Nero, many were expecting Harimau Selatan to be the team to beat in 2013.

And they certainly got off to a dream start at the Darulmakmur Stadium on Wednesday as captain Safiq put them ahead after just 11 minutes, ghosting in at the near post to glance home a pinpoint left-wing cross by Guiza.

15 minutes, they doubled their lead when Guiza, who was part of the Spain side that won Euro 2008, once again proved his quality by creating space for himself with a sharp turn before threading a visionary pass through to Norshahrul, who steadied himself before drilling a shot past Nasril Nourdin.

However, Pahang pulled one back four minutes after the break when Fauzi Roslan converted a pass from Fazrol Hussain, but Darul Takzim wasted two excellent chances to reclaim their two-goal cushion shortly after the hour mark.

First, Nurul Azwan Roya could only watch on in despair as his well-struck effort from the edge of the box came back off the crossbar, before Guiza managed to miss from close range with the whole goal to aim for.

Those misses came back to haunt them in the 72nd minute when Fauzi grabbed his second of the game after good work from R. Gopinathan, and seven minutes from time, an unlikely comeback was completed when R. Surendran fired home the winner to hand Tok Gajah all three points.

Selangor got their campaign up and running after recording a hard-fought 1-0 win over Negri Sembilan at the Shah Alam Stadium, in a game which the visitors could have won had they been more clinical in front of goal.

Instead, it was Red Giants debutant S. Kunanlan who came back to haunt his former side by scoring the only goal of the game in the 68th minute, reacting quickest to a cross into the box and getting enough on the ball to direct it into the far corner.

Terengganu, who were looking to get the season off to a good start under new coach E. Elavarasan after a disappointing 2012, had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to FELDA United.

After a goalless first half, the visitors took the lead in the 54th minute through a fine solo effort by Mohammed Ghaddar, who picked up the ball on the right wing and sprinted past Faizal Muhammad and Qhairul Anwar Roslani before clinically firing into the bottom corner.

Nonetheless, the Turtles earned a share of the spoils five minutes later when FELDA captain Kaironnisam Sahabudin, in a bid to prevent a Ismail Faruqi Asha'ri corner from reaching Ashaari Shamsuddin, sent a header into the back of his own net.

Finally, Perak defeated T-Team 1-0 courtesy of a 93rd-minute own-goal from Nuraliff Zainal Abidin.

Tuesday's Malaysia Super League Results

Terengganu 1-1 FELDA United

Pahang 3-2 Darul Takzim

Perak 1-0 T-Team

Selangor 1-0 Negri Sembilan