MATCH REPORT: Lions XII 1-0 Sarawak FA

Lions XII continued to exert pressure over struggling Sarawak when Khairul Nizam scored the only goal of the game to enable the home side to win the full three points in the Malaysia Super League tonight.

Playing without ace striker Billy Mehmet, tenacious midfilder Joseph Kalang, and experienced defensive midfielder Shahrol Saperi, the Crocs started the game rather aggressive.

Nonetheless, as they game progressed, the Crocs found themselves unable to retain possession with Lions XII players slowly pressing hard towards the Crocs goal mouth.

Lions XII which had a home crowd of 4,748 behind them, then started to control the game with the Crocs finding themselves defending from quite a number of long range efforts from the more confident Singaporean side.

Despite that, Sarawak did silence the crowd at Padang Besar through a goal from Ryan Griffith in the 40th minute, but his goal was disallowed due to being offside.

In the 52nd minute, Khariul Nizam powered a header past goalkeeper Fadzley Rahim after the Sarawak defence had failed to clear Khairul Amri’s cross, hence erupting Stadium Jalan Besar into a frenzy, and putting the home side ahead in the game.

The Lions continued to press harder for the second goal but with LionsXII goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud doing well between his post, it was evided that the home side only needed that single goal to run out as winners of the game.

The win gives Lions XII much boost in the league with the Crocs seeping deeper into the relegation zone.