Football: Shahrel's brace hands Perak the gold

Muhammad Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi celebrates after scoring for Perak. They beat Johor 3-1 to take home the gold medal. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star

KANGAR: Perak won the mother of all gold medals at Sukma after edging Johor 3-1 in the football final at the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium.

Perak’s goals came from forward Muhammad Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi who scored a brace in the seventh and 90th minutes, and Khairul Asyraf Sahizah in the 17th minute. 

It was Khairul’s fifth goal of the tournament.

Johor’s consolation goal came from Shafiq Shaharuddin’s spot-kick in the 76th minute.

Perak dominated most of the match as Johor struggled to gain a foothold in the match.

Nippy Shahrel opened the scoring after he latched on to a loose ball in the penalty box.

Ten minutes later, Khairul capitalised from Johor goalkeeper Mohd Syafizullah Abd Wahab’s fumble as he dropped a cross.

The two-goal cushion was not enough and Perak continued to press on for more goals, only to be let down by poor finishing.

In the second half, Johor hit the back of the net from a Shafiq spot-kick after winger Nai’m  Nazmi Zainuddin was felled in the box in the 76th minute.

Shahrel however, finished off the game and Johor by netting the final goal from a cross in the 90th minute.

Meanwhile, in the bronze medal play-off, Kedah edged hosts Perlis 1-0 with Muhammad Syafiq  Ahmad netting the winner in the 70th minute at the UiTM Stadium.