PETALING JAYA: The match between Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Terengganu at the Malaysian Super League proved to be a feisty affair for the fans.
Both sides shared the spoils at the Sultan Nasiruddin Shah Stadium as Terengganu fought back from 2-1 to draw the game 2-2.
The first-half proved to be an end-to-end affair as both sides look to draw first blood.
JDT’s Syafiq Ahmad could have given the lead for the southern side in the third minute when he received a brilliant ball from Gonzalo Cabrera, but the midfielder’s shot was a fraction wide.
It was Terengganu that took the lead when a brilliant interchange of passes between captain Kipre Tchetche and midfielder Lee Tuck found winger Khairul Izuan Rosli, who slotted the ball beautifully in the bottom right corner of Mohd Farizal Marlias’ goal in the seventh minute.
That goal woke JDT as they looked to equalise and the Southern Tigers were gifted a penalty in the 30th minute when centreback Nasrullah Haniff Johan brought down striker Diogo Santo.
However, the Brazilian’s placed shot went wide.
JDT continued to look for an equaliser and Diogo had another opportunity when his swivelling shot was well saved by Terengganu’s veteran goalkeeper Suffian Abdul Rahman.
In the second-half, JDT showed fight to get the equaliser and were rewarded in the 60th minute when jostling between Tuck and centreback Mauricio Santos in the box led to a second penalty for the away side.
Safawi Rasid did not disappoint as he buried from the spot.
JDT got their second goal in the 68th minute through Diogo who capitalised on a far post header from Mauricio off an Aaron Niguez corner as Terengganu were jolted with two goals in eight minutes.
In the 87th minute, substitute Abdul Malik Ariff nearly got the equaliser for the home side when he placed his shot into the side netting after beating several JDT and two minutes later, Tuck’s freekick hit the woodwork.
But their persistence paid off after Kamal Azizi equalised for Terengganu when he capitalised on Nasrullah’s looping header in the opposition box to cheer the crowd in the stadium.
In the 92nd minute, Terengganu thought they had the match winner when a quickly taken free kick from Tuck was headed into JDT’s goal by Nasrullah but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
