PETALING JAYA: Perak thought of putting a smile on the faces of people in Manjung, but Sabah had other ideas.
The side coached by Datuk Ong Kim Swee ended Perak’s three-game Super League winning streak by beating them 4-2 at the Manjung Stadium yesterday.
It was Perak’s first game in Manjung as they moved to the district due to pitch works at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.
The home side drew first blood in the 30th minute when captain and playmaker Luciano Guaycochea scored from the penalty spot.
That goal woke the away side, with wingback Ko Kwang-min scoring the equaliser in the 39th minute.
The South Korean capitalised on a poor clearance from Nigerian midfielder Sunday Afolabi by receiving the ball from outside the penalty box and unleashing a forceful right-footed screw shot, which flew past Perak goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli.
Four minutes later, the Rhinos scored another when midfielder Stuart Wilkin pulled a superb half-volley inside the penalty box to give his side the lead.
In the second-half, Perak just needed four minutes to bring the game to 2-2 when Brazilian striker Clayton Silva (pic) scored in the 49th minute.
But Sabah regained the lead in the 82nd minute when Brazilian striker Joao Pedro finished off a headed pass from Gabriel Peres to score his second goal of the season in three games.
Sabah confirmed their victory when Spaniard playmaker Miguel Cifuentes capitalised on a defensive mistake by putting the ball past Haziq in the 87th minute.
Sabah are now fourth in the league with 17 points from 11 matches, while Perak are fifth with 15 points from 11 games.
Kim Swee was delighted with the goals but had special praise for midfielder Stuart.
“We knew Stuart has that ability with shots, and he is in his best shape at the moment. We know he is not just an important player for us, but for Malaysia as well. So it good to see him in such form.”
