Match Report: Terengganu 6-6 USM
There are always plenty of goals when these sides meet, nine in the previous meeting between the sides, this time they shared twelve goals in a 6-6 draw.
Having sat out matchday 1, USM took on a Terengganu side who were beaten 11-3 by leaders Selangor to leave Mohd Shafily bin Jusoh still in 5th, four points behind KL City.
USM, who’d lost their last three in a row, took an early lead, a quick break saw a cross shot from Eikmal Daniel deflected into his own net by Hafizi Ismail.
Terengganu, who beat USM 5-4 on the opening matchday of the season, levelled, a quick breakout of defence ended with Adam Azrul getting his first goal of the season.
Minutes later, Terengganu took the lead for the first time, Hafizi on the scoresheet at the right end to make up for his earlier own goal.
With two minutes to go in the first half, USM equalised, a brilliant run by Izzat Aqiyudin set up a simple tap-in for Shahhamin Shahbani to make it 2-2.
Seconds later, USM scored again to go in with a slender lead at the break and another good run this time from Ahmad Muazzim set up Aiman Naimi to make it 3-2.
The first ten minutes of the second half failed to produce a goal with both sides cancelling each other out, but then things came to life, Hafizi Ismail’s second of the match made it 3-3 and shortly afterwards Terengganu took the lead for a second time, top scorer Alif Mat Amin adding another to his season’s tally.
USM were making a real game of this, though, and soon made it 4-4, Shahamin Shahbani with his second of the match, but once again the pendulum swung Terengganu’s way, Alif Mat Amin setting up Alif Izzat to retake the lead again at 5-4 and a repeat of the scoreline when the sides met at the start of the season.
This time the scoring wasn’t finished, Izzat Aqiyudin levelled things once again for USM and a few seconds later he put his side back in front with what looked like the winner.
But Terengganu had other ideas and, with a few seconds left, scored a dramatic late equaliser through Hafizi Ismail, who completed his hat-trick.
USM keeper Ash Afif was voted player of the match for a string of fine saves in both halves to frustrate Terengganu and earn his side a valuable point in a great game.
Man of the Match: Ash Afif (USM)
