Circuit 7 Recap: JDT's Biggest Win, and a Direct Hit in the Race for Second

Circuit 7 brought the season's heaviest scoreline in either direction. Johor Darul Ta'zim beat PFA Odin Sarawak 15-1 on the opening matchday, Mohamad Awalludin scoring four times, a result that pushed JDT's goal difference to within touching distance of Selangor's own. Selangor themselves were nearly as emphatic on the road, beating Terengganu 11-3 with Marlon and Syahir Iqbal sharing seven goals between them, before completing the circuit with a comfortable 5-0 win over ATM on the second matchday.

The circuit's most significant result for the shape of the table arrived on the second matchday, when Pahang Rangers, level on points with JDT going into the weekend, lost 5-4 at home to their rivals, Mahadir Harahap scoring twice either side of a Bruno Taffy brace. It was Pahang's second defeat in as many days having also lost 6-4 to KL City on the opening matchday, Felipe De Souza scoring four times in a losing effort, results that effectively settled which of the two sides would finish the regular season closer to Selangor at the top of the table.

Elsewhere, Wipers and ATM shared a rare point in a 1-1 draw, while Terengganu and USM produced one of the circuit's more entertaining matches, sharing six goals apiece in a result that continued to underline USM's growing competitiveness against sides closer to their own level. KL City's 1-0 win over Wipers on the second matchday, Sufri Shamil scoring the only goal, offered a narrow but useful response to their defeat by Pahang Rangers the previous day.

With seven circuits played and two remaining, the season's broad outline was now firmly set: Selangor unbeaten and clear at the top, JDT their closest challengers after a heavy response to their one defeat, and Pahang Rangers, despite a difficult circuit, still holding a firm grip on third place heading into the season's closing weeks.