The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| JDT closes the gap with win over Super League leaders Selangor Posted: 24 May 2014 10:05 AM PDT JDT who were in third spot before tonight's match moved up to second place with 32 points, just two points adrift of Selangor. Their Argentinian import, Luciano Figueroa emerged the hero when he netted the winner in the 70th minute. Also improving their position were Terengganu who defeated neighbours Pahang 4-1 at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan. With the result, the Turtles moved up from fourth to third place after collecting 31 points while Pahang saw a reverse. Javier Estupinan opened scoring for Terengganu in the 19th minute before Abdul Manaf Mamat made it two up in the dying minutes of the first half. Pahang narrowed the deficit when Damion Stewart scored in the 65th minute. The Elephants were forced to play with 10 men from the 70th minute when Mohd Razman Roslan was yellow carded for the second time. Zairo Anuar Zalani fired home Terengganu's third goal in the 90th minute before Mohammad Ashari Samsudin rounded off the night for them in style when he scored their fourth in the final minute of added time. At the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, Kuala Terengganu, club side T-Team caused an upset when they edged Kelantan 1-0. Mohd Nizad Ayub made all the difference when he found the net in the 48th minute. Lions XII also collected three full points when they defeated Armed Forces (ATM) 2-1 at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore. Mohammad Khairul Amri Mohammad Kamal put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute before Muhammad Zulfahmi Mohd Arifin doubled the tally in the 21st minute. The visitors' consolation goal only came in the 77th minute when Rezal Zambery Yahya found the net. At the Selayang Stadium, Sime Darby easily defeated bottom-of-the table Selangor PKNS FC 4-1. – Bernama, May 24, 2014. |
| Tony Fernandes’s QPR back in the lucrative Premier League Posted: 24 May 2014 09:31 AM PDT Harry Redknapp's side were reduced to 10 men for the final 30 minutes after Gary O'Neil's red card, but Zamora punished a mistake by Richard Keogh to steal victory against the run of play and ensure the west Londoners will make a quick and lucrative return to the English top-flight after last season's relegation. It was a real smash and grab raid by QPR, who struggled to find any rhythm even before O'Neil's dismissal, but although Derby dominated they had only themselves to blame for failing to make the most of their chances. QPR's triumph made them the first team to win promotion after finishing fourth in the second tier for 16 years. But the historical significance of the victory will pale in comparison to the relief felt by QPR's Malaysian owner Tony Fernandes, who has funded a £70 million wage bill reportedly higher than Spanish champions Atletico Madrid, while also coping with annual losses of around £65 million. In that context, promotion to the promised land of the Premier League, where QPR will now land a minimum windfall of £80 million, was essential and somehow Redknapp's men have delivered. For Derby manager Steve McClaren, Wembley once again proved the most painful of venues. It was McClaren's first time in the Wembley dug-out since November 2007 when his underwhelming spell as England manager came to a farcical end with the coach lampooned as the 'Wally with the brolly' after he huddled under an umbrella during a 3-2 defeat against Croatia that shattered his country's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008. There was no umbrella in sight as McClaren led his team onto the pitch, but he had a familiar sinking feeling by full-time. In a scrappy first half, McClaren's men appealed in vain for a penalty when teenage midfielder Will Hughes raced onto Jamie Ward's pass, cleverly turned back in the other direction and took a tumble after Richard Dunne's awkward challenge. Robert Green came to QPR's rescue in the 40th minute when he plunged low to his left to turn away an inswinging free-kick from Ward that almost crept in at the far post. Derby were on the front foot again after the break, but they almost fell behind to a sucker punch when Armand Traore's cross picked out Charlie Austin and the forward stabbed just wide. Desperate lunge The momentum swung back in Derby's favour moments later when O'Neil was sent off in the 60th minute. Hughes seized on a loose pass and picked out Johnny Russell, who flicked the ball through Dunne's legs and appeared poised to bear down on goal until O'Neil's desperate lunge sent him crashing to the turf and brought a red card from referee Lee Mason. McClaren's side tried to press home their numerical advantage and substitute Craig Bryson drew a smart save from Green before Martin's near-post strike was repelled by the former England goalkeeper. Green was keeping Derby at bay almost single-handed and he made another good stop to claw away Simon Dawkins' shot from point-blank range. Derby were the division's top scorers with 84 goals, but they just couldn't find a way past a QPR defence superbly marshalled by Dunne. And with extra-time looming there was an astonishing sting in the tale. QPR winger Junior Hoilett showed great determination to win the ball wide on the right, but his cross should have been cleared by Keogh. Instead, the Derby defender diverted his clearance straight to Zamora, who could hardly believe his luck as he dispatched a fine first-time finish past Lee Grant to send QPR back to the big time. – AFP, May 24, 2014. |
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