MUKAH: A crucial penalty kick proved decisive in the Group D opener as Perak edged out Sarawak 1-0 at the Dalat and Mukah District Council (MDDM) Field, here yesterday (Aug 12).
Perak’s Ahmad Daniel expertly converted the spot-kick, sending Sarawak goalie Muhammad Faridzuan Pekan, the wrong way.
Perak started the match with aggressive intent, putting pressure on the Sarawak defence.
However, the hosts soon found their footing and managed to regain control of the game.
Head coach Awangku Shahbuddin was visibly animated on the sidelines, offering constant encouragement and tactical advice to his team.
In the 20th minute, Sarawak captain Amierul Safwan missed a golden opportunity when he headed a cross from captain Wesley Azcang wide off the mark.
Tensions escalated when Sarawak star midfielder Mohammad Faris received a yellow card for a foul.
The decisive moment came in the 37th minute when the referee awarded Perak a penalty which Ahmad successfully converted to give Perak the lead.
In the second half, Sarawak began to build momentum.
Local fans, braving the scorching sun on Monday (Aug 12), created an electrifying atmosphere that significantly boosted the home side.
Sarawak intensified their attack, with numerous balls directed towards Wesley Azcang, who continued to cause problems on the right wing.
Despite Amierul having a chance, his shot lacked the power needed to threaten the Perak goalmouth.
Nevertheless, Sarawak’s relentless pressure saw a corner kick that the Perak goalkeeper managed to clear.
In the dying minutes, Perak squandered a scoring chance, while Sarawak’s attempts to equalise fell short.
It was a match that was both thrilling and frustrating for Sarawak, who now look ahead to their next challenge against Federal Territory on Wednesday (Aug 14) at 4 pm.
