Just A Few Things: Penang Vs. Perak

Credit: MFL

Roaring Up The Table

Let’s face it. No one expected Penang to be close to the top four after five matches. The very maximum that maybe everyone expected is at least mid-table. And yet, there they are now in that top four. Thomas Trucha has definitely passed the first impression test by taking the Panthers to fourth currently. They have successfully taken advantage of Terengganu’s slip-up against Petaling Jaya City and now tied on points with the Turtles with 11 following their first win over Perak since 2009. Though Penang are lower as they have an inferior goal difference after this week.

Nevertheless, they completely defied pre-season expectations. Players such as Danial Ashraf, Ryuji Utomo, Al-Hafiz Harun and a certain goalkeeper who we will go into next have all proven to be valuable assets for Penang’s charge. The question remains, which can be asked the same of 2nd-placed Kedah and 3rd-placed Terengganu, whether they can continue their charge to the top. 

Somme Mistake That Is

A huge factor to their form has been their solid defence. A defence that frustrated Johor Darul Takzim until the 80th minute and held two consecutive clean sheets afterwards against UiTM & Selangor. A big reason for this is because of their goalkeeper Samuel Sommerville. The keeper looked brilliantly composed and knew how to read a dangerous situation very well. So given the bright form he has been in, you can imagine some people’s surprise when he wasn’t called up for Malaysia’s centralized training during the break though he is facing some rather stiff competition. However on this night, even good goalkeepers can make horrible mistakes and Sommerville is guilty for this one.

In the 12th minute, Sergio Ezequiel Aguero, under pressure from David Rowley, played a brilliant improvised yet wishful overhead ball across goal by the goal line in the hopes they find someone at the far post. Sommerville misjudged the flight of the ball as he didn’t get all of his hands on it and to Penang’s horror, the ball fell nicely for Careca for the easiest chances you will ever see. Thankfully for the keeper, it didn’t matter in the end.

Samba Night In Penang

It looked like a Brazilian carnival happened at the City Stadium. There were figurative fireworks in the form of nets bulging, the slick movement of the football players personifies the dancing and of course celebrations when those goals are scored. But what makes this truly a Brazilian spectacle was all three goals were scored by Brazilians. The aforementioned Careca opened the scoring by being in the right place and the right time. Then a certain Brazilian striker equalized just before half-time and that same Brazilian played a huge role for Penang’s winner scored by Brazilian defender Rafael Vitor whose header was just out of Hafizul Hakim’s reach. But the Brazilian of the night surely belongs to...

The Casa Is Open

Penang may have gone off a great start so far this season. But the one person who hasn’t prior to this match is their Brazilian striker Casagrande. He hasn’t scored in all five matches and concerns are mounting after each passing match. You would think fate wouldn’t be kind to him again when his header, destined to go in, was diverted to the bar by Perak’s Shakir Hamzah and you would think it’s just not gonna happen to him.

Thankfully for Casagrande, fate was much kinder as he finally caused rain on his goal drought. Danial Ashraf’s shot from outside the box was blocked by Kenny Pallraj and the ball found its way to the Brazilian’s feet. He took advantage of it with a clever finish with the outside of his boot and you can see how much he was happy about it with his celebrations. He was also involved for Penang’s winner when from a corner, his header was diverted to the path of Rafael Vitor to net it. Casagrande’s first goal of the season could not have come at a better time for Penang as they look to turn the status quo at the summit upside down.

Burn Them To Ash-es

You may think Penang will lose some of their creative drive after losing Endrick Dos Santos to a lengthy injury absence. Thankfully for the Panthers, they have a good replacement to step up to the plate. Danial Ashraf Abdullah, having just joined Penang from Kelantan has been an exciting revelation and he showed further of what he can do here.

Continuing off from his great performance at Selangor in the previous matchday, Danial drove the team forward with his runs into promising positions with the ball or being in the right place at the time. It was his shot that caused chaos which led to Penang’s equalizer and he could’ve got a goal himself had it gone off the post. Still, it’s another encouraging night for the attacking midfielder.

Struggling Bos Gaurus

The moment when news broke out Mehmet Durakovic had left his role as Perak head coach, there were concerns about Perak not being able to repeat their achievements under him. First signs so far this season looked like those concerns are justified. Perak are now closer to the relegation zone with just six games in. But it’s still rather early in the season and besides, you also have to look at the circumstances surrounding their form so far and how it happened in the first place.

Durakovic leaving was out of nowhere and with just two weeks before the season opened, no less. So to be fair to Chong Yee Fatt, he didn’t have much time to shape the squad he wanted in terms of players and his tactics. He almost pulled off an upset in the last matchday before this against JDT only to concede a last-minute equalizer via a penalty. Not only that, they actually looked decent here. However given what Durakovic has achieved with this Perak team, it will be a hard follow-up act for the former KL head coach to earn similar achievements.