SEO Header Title

Terengganu 3 Abdul Manaf Mamat 30, Ashaari Shamsuddin 48, Dos Anjos 88
UPB-MyTeam 1 Zambri Chin 90

Terengganu dropped to fifth place, seven points behind leaders Kedah despite registering their fifth win of the season. Perak climbed to fourth on goal-difference after thrashing teh hapless PDRM 6-0 at the Selayang Stadium. The Turtles 3-1 win was broadcasted live over the national television and most viewers would have agreed it was quite a stroll in the park for the home team.

It was a marked improvement by the home team as they controlled the majority of the match with the visitors relying on counter-attacks for most of the time. National goalkeeper, Syed Adni played brilliantly to keep the home side from going ahead on a number of occassions.

Relying on counter-attacks UPB-MT nearly scored in the 18^th minute during one of their rare forays into the Terengganu half. However, the Terengganu defence led by captain Mohd Marzuki Yusof stood firm to thwart the attack. A minute later Dos Anjos forced Syed Adni into making another good save after the Brazillian wonderful individual play led him to find a bit of a space in front of goal. Much to the disappointment of the crowd, his volley was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.

As usual, Dos Anjos became the most fouled player on the pitch. Another foul in the 20^th minute saw Zairo hitting the wall with his effort. The ball fell to Gleisson Freire who failed to bring it under control. The visitors breathed easily as the ball was hacked away by a defender. Dos Anjos was having a wonderful match this time. In the 23^rd minute he cut inside from the right before unleashing another shot which was on target but Syed Adney held his ground.

Marzuki who returned tonight after serving a one match suspension in the match against DPMM FC did himself no favour when he found his name taken into the referee’s book after a tackle from behind on an opponent.

The physical presence of Gleisson which was sorely missed during his suspension was evidence when he managed to force UPB-MT to concede a corner after his continous pressure. Fabio Flor, who scored the equaliser against Selangor via a header came close again but this time his effort went past the wrong side of the post. Terengganu continued to apply the pressure.

Finally on the half hour mark, they finally reaped the dividends. Dos Anjos found space on the left behind the visitors’ defence. His squared it low into the box with pace and Abdul Manaf Mamat had the easiest task of guiding it into the net with the goalkeeper completely beaten.

Terengganu needed to maintain their composure and concentration to ensure all their hardwork would not be undone. However Marzuki nearly made a mess when he tried to take the ball under control instead of making a simple clearance but to his relief UPB-MT failed to capitalise on that. The skipper redeemed himself a minute later when he powerfully headed away a corner after Flor had made a last minute tackle to prevent a UPB-MT player from scoring after being put through by his midfield.

Goalkeeper Mohd Sharbinee Allawee also played confidently despite just returning from sickness that prevented him from travelling to Brunie last week. But he did not have much to do for most of the ninety minutes unlike his counterpart who had to be alert throughout the match. The last five minutes of the first half Syed Adney had to be on his toes as Terengganu pressed hard for a killer second goal before the interval.

The second half began as it ended in the first half. Just a couple of minutes into the second half, Gleisson beat Syed Adney to a through ball. Despite being forced wide the Brazillian managed to find Dos Anjos at the top of the box and he forced another save from the UPB-MT goalkeeper with a stinging shot. From the resulting corner Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin rose high at the near post to glance the ball past Syed Adney.

Terengganu were two goals ahead and cruising.

Much to the delight of the crowd, the home team kept pressing for more goals. In the 51^st minute Dos Anjos attempted to put Abdul Manaf through but Syed Adney came out quickly to smoothen the danger. Abdul Manaf turned provider two minutes later when he found Mohd Norhisam Hassan with a wonderful pass but the hard working midfielder blasted his attempt over the bar.

Terengganu kept piling up the shots at UPB-MT goal but the away team nearly pull one back through a quick counter-attack in the 59^th minute but luckily for Terengganu their forward fumbled at the crucial moment, enabling the home defence to clear the danger. There was a moment of concern just after the hour mark when Gleisson had to be stretchered off after a clash of heads while going for a high ball. He recovered well to continue a few minutes later.

In the 68^th minute Gleisson played Abdul Manaf behind the UPB-MT defence with a deft flick on the right. He whipped the ball into the box where Ashaari met it with a volley but a covering defender deflected the attempt over the bar with Syed Adney completely beaten. From the corner Flor saw another effort went wide of the UPB-MT’s goal despite the goalkeeper being all at sea.

Two minutes later, left-back Mohd Saiful Rosly chased a seemingly lost cause but much to his credit managed to retrieve the ball before finding Dos Anjos at the edge of the box. The Brazillian found Abdul Manaf again but the striker took too much time and was tackled by a defender.

Gleisson had a great chance in the 73^rd minute to mark his return with a goal when he regain possession of the ball after Syed Adney had miskicked a backpass from his team-mate. However, it was not meant to be after his shot hit the far past before rebounding into play. Abdul Manaf picked up the loose ball and saw his low effort parried by Syed Adney. Norhisham was on hand to put the ball into the net but much to the dismay of the crowd and the player himself the referee assistant had raised his flag for offside.

In the 77^th minute another foul on Dos Anjos saw the referee awarding Terengganu another free-kick in a dangerous position. This time the home team played it short with the Brazillian pushing it to Zairo who failed to keep his shot down. Another foul on the right on Dos Anjos five minutes later saw Zairo’s effort headed by a UPB-MT defender against his own bar.

Terengganu made two quick changes and Mohd Alif Hafifi Mohamad and Rosairil Asrul came on to give the home side some fresh legs. With three minutes of regulation time remaining the three Brazillians combined to put the match beyond the visitors’ grasp. Flor’s header found Gleisson who took a couple of UPB-MT players before finding Dos Anjos on the left. This time Syed Adney could do nothing as the Brazillian low shot crept past him into the net.

Ismail Faruqi Asha’ari came on in the dying moments for the tiring Norhisham. Terengganu lost a bit of concentration and when Marzuki failed to intercept the ball on Terengganu’s right side of defence, UPB-Mt made the most from the space which saw Zambri Chin scored what proved to be a consolation goal for his side. Sharbinee had to be alert to prevent another goal as the visitors tried to rally for a comeback.

It was a too little too late as Terengganu chalked up another three points to keep Kedah within distance in the race to the Super League title.