Just A Report: UiTM Vs. UKM
Credit: Malaysian Football League
UKM FC will be irritated with themselves for not taking their handful of chances presented after UiTM FC pulled off a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory late in the match to maintain momentum at the top of the Premier League table.
UKM fired a warning shot just three minutes after kick-off that had UiTM FC had their hearts in their mouth. Faiz Hanif got at the end of Wan Mohd Afiq’s corner by the near post and saw his header beat everyone, sadly even the goal as it bounced a little too high for his liking.
Within the next five minutes, UKM had two quickfire chances. Mateo Roskam’s low shot from the right flashed wide of the far post and Michael Ijezie’s floated cross looked set to be on-target that forced UiTM keeper, Haziq Aris to tip it away.
On 27 minutes, UiTM nearly gifted their opponents a goal through catastrophic levels. Haziq Aris came off his line to try and punch clear Alexandru Tudose’s free-kick from the left. But he didn’t get a clean connection and the ball went behind him and was about to go in. But to Haziq’s huge sigh of relief, a teammate was there on the line to clear away the danger and prevented a disaster.
Haziq once again was called to action as he pulled off a great save to deny Faiz’ dangerous free-kick over the bar with his left hand.
Though both sides looked even in possession, UKM was the one that made use of theirs properly while UiTM struggled to give UKM’s defensive line something to think about. At the end of half-time, UKM looked the more likely to score.
Once the second half started, UiTM played with some renewed vigor, but still can’t trouble UKM. Although, UiTM once again had a narrow escape from disaster on 51 minutes. Faizal Arif miskicked a clearance and it gifted Faiz a clear one-on-one chance, only for the winger to miskick as well and saw his shot go wide instead.
Wan Mohd Faiz had another chance on goal minutes later as he got a low shot off on the right by the near post, but Haziq once again was at the right place to stop it.
UiTM finally got their first clear-cut chance of the match on 69 minutes. Stand-in captain, Zarko Korac received a cutback from the right. The Montenegro striker had all the time and space to perfectly strike it, only for the end result be UKM keeper, Amin Faisal to get a hand on it.
Then seven minutes from the end, UiTM pulled off a heist. A corner from the right floated over everyone except Amer Azahar by the far post. The winger unleashed a powerful low shot that pinballed its way into the net much to UKM’s disbelief. First, it hit his teammate Korac, then it hit the post, and finally it came off a UKM player (Who may be Wan Mohd Afiq) who was taking position by the near post. Credit to Amer who made the goal happen, but replays suggest that it should be credited as an own goal.
Roskam had the final chance of the match on the final minute of injury time, but couldn’t muster enough power from his acrobatic shot to trouble Haziq. It wasn’t one of UiTM’s best matches, but they came away with the ugly win to keep the pressure on Johor Darul Takzim II, who occupies first place in the Premier League as they take on Selangor United later tonight.
UiTM XI:
29 Haziq Aris
5 Syahmi Shukri
11 Syed Ariff
14 Amer Azahar
20 Adi Said
21 Faizal Arif
25 Azriddin Rosli
26 Ridhuan Alzy Hussham (28 Akhliddin Israilov, ’59)
27 Zulkhairi Zulkeply
30 Zarko Korac ©
31 Nizaruddin Jazi (16 Shafiq Al-Hafiz, ’68)
Subs:
6 Nazrin Syamsul
10 Nur Areff Kamaruddin
15 Izman Solehin
18 Afiq Arshad
24 Azfar Arif (GK)
Bookings: Ridzuan Azly Hussam (’45), Zarko Korac (’74)
UKM XI:
18 Amin Faisal
2 K. Reuben
4 Asnan Ahmad (19 Irwan Syazmin, ’88)
6 Saiful Hasnol
9 Michael Ijezie
14 Wan Mohd Afiq
15 Mateo Roskam
20 Faiz Hanif (7 Azri Zulkiflee, ’88)
26 Milad Zeneyedpour
28 Wan Mohd Faiz (10 Hafizi Amiruddin ’65)
30 Alexandru Tudose ©
Subs:
17 Hafiz Fazrin
22 Khatul Anuar (GK)
23 Arip Amiruddin
29 Asyraaf Mat Pushni
Bookings: Alexandru Tudose (’29)