KL City 3-2 USM
KL City held off a spirited USM to win 3-2 and climb to fourth, Daniel Almeida getting the decisive goal and keeper Arif Alias saving a second penalty as USM's late fightback fell just short.
KL City went into their match with USM looking to move above Terengganu and ATM into fourth place in the MPFL table.
It was a frantic start with two goals inside the opening minute. KL City went in front, a quickly taken free-kick by captain Dinesh Kumar finding Dodie Al-Fareq, who put his side ahead.
But seconds later USM, who had lost every game so far, equalised. Amirul Syahmi's shot was pushed out by keeper Arif Alias straight to Haikal Adam, who scored his first MPFL goal.
Both goalkeepers were called into action on numerous occasions, but KL City eventually found a way through for a second, Syahid Ajid scoring his first of the season to make it 2-1, and that was the way it stayed until half-time.
The second half was largely uneventful, both sides cancelling each other out and both keepers continuing to stand firm. KL City did extend their lead, though, Daniel Almeida, who was KL's biggest threat, getting his first goal from open play this season.
But KL City's indiscipline almost cost them. Having conceded five fouls against ATM last week, they did the same again here, giving away two second penalties. The first was fired way over the top by Izzat Aqiyudin; the second, from Muazzim Shakri, was brilliantly saved by Arif Alias.
Shakri did redeem himself seconds later to make it 3-2, and with KL hanging on, Danial Zhafirul fired agonisingly wide as KL City held on to record only their second win of the season.
Credit to the fighting spirit of USM who, despite slipping to a sixth straight defeat, produced arguably one of their best performances of the season so far.
