Titans Go Down

After escaping relegation last season on goal difference,  T-Team Titans could not pull it off this time and they are going to play in the Premier League in 2015 together with PKNS FC.

They needed to win their match against the Lions XII last night and with the home advantage Azraai Khor's men should at least get a draw and hoped results from other matches go their way.

However they failed to create enough chance against the visitors who had nothing to play for except for pride.

Missing Leandro Dos Santos from their line up The Titans struggled to create chances with just Patrich Wanggai working his socks off as his strike partner, Jimmy Mulisa spent most of the time running like a headless chicken.

The Titans' defence managed to hold most of The Lions attacks at bay but goalkeeper, Shahril Sa'ari was a bundle of nerves.

He began the second half with an improved performance but a quick counter-attack launched by his counterpart, Izwan Mahbud saw Muhammad Sufian through on goal.

Shahril went out from his area and in his attempt to prevent a goal brought down the Lions midfielder.

Referee Zohri Tajudin did not hesitate in flashing the red card to the goalkeeper, the first in his career. Wan Azrai was sent on to take Shahril's place with Muhammad Ramzul being sacrificed.

The sending off however seemed to motivate The Titans more and there were obvious injection of pace in their play but they just could not create the opening to get to The Lions goal.

Then in the 66th minute they were hit on the break with Khairul Amri setting up the ball for an unmarked Muhammad Faris to slot home past Azrai.

The home side came under more pressure after this and they were clearly unhappy with the Lions players who kept feigning injury to waste time.

In the end The Titans failed in their mission to win this match and when results from other matches came through they found out a draw would be sufficient as the Armed Forces (ATM) were held to a 1-1 draw by Sime Darby FC.

The defeat saw them finished the season level on points with ATM but The Gladiators better goal difference was enough to condemn The Titans to the Premier League next season.

Azraai Khor commented after the match they went down not due to result from this match alone but throughout the season when their performance in some matches deserved more but ended up with nothing.

He pointed out the draws against Perak and Sime Darby FC as examples for his statement.

Azraai stressed out the more important thing now is to motivate his players for the Malaysia Cup playoff against Negeri Sembilan on 28 June to determine whether their season would continue or end at this juncture.

Meanwhile in Kota Bahru, Terengganu staged a late comeback against Kelantan to register their first win over their East Coast rivals at the Sultan Mohamad IV Stadium in since 2012.

A brace from Abdul Manaf Mamat cancelled Fakri Saarani and Khairul Izuan strikes in the first half before Norfarhan Mohamad scored the winner against his former team towards the end of the match.

Elsewhere Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) won their first Super League title after winning their match against Sarawak 1-0 at the State Stadium in Kuching.

The big spending JDT proved that money can buy success with a star studded squad that should have sealed the title with ease.

The win in Kuching rendered the result between Selangor and relegated PKNS FC irrelevant.

In Ipoh, Perak ensured their survival in the Super League with a 3-0 win over FA Cup winners,  Pahang.

...