Safiq Rahim hat trick as JDT win 7-0 vs. Melaka United in MSL
Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) racked up the biggest win in the Malaysia Super League (MSL) this season when they annihilated Melaka United 7-0, inspired by a Safiq Rahim hat trick at Larkin Stadium on Sunday night.
The Southern Tigers' thumping win takes them to third in the league with a game in hand, ending their run of consecutive defeats in Cup competitions.
JDT lost 3-2 to Pahang in the first leg quarterfinals of the FA Cup on April 1 before going down 3-2 to Global FC in the AFC Cup four days later.
There was also good news for Zainal Abidin Hassan's Penang. They recorded their first league victory of the season, with a 1-0 success away to Felda United at Tun Abdul Razak Stadium.
S. Kumaahran's 79th minute winner gives the Panthers a glimmer of hope as they begin a new lease of life under the former Selangor boss in the wake of the Ashley Westwood's disastrous three months in charge.
JDT AND MELAKA UNITED PLAYERS ARRIVAL | TAN SRI DATO' HAJI HASSAN YUNOS STADIUM, LARKIN | 9TH APRIL 2017 pic.twitter.com/LlYdbJ0oZr
- JOHORSouthernTigers (@OfficialJohor) April 9, 2017
But the true goal fest was in Johor, and it began as early as the seventh minute through Argentine striker Gabriel Guerra.
Safiq added a second 10 minutes later before the JDT captain laid on an assist for Amirulhadi Zainal to put the game to bed with a third.
But Safiq was just getting warmed up. His through ball after 33 minutes found Gonzalo Cabrera who finished home to make it 4-0.
Any hopes of Melaka exercising damage control after the break evaporated just a minute into the second half as Azamuddin Akil joined the party with a fifth.
2017 SUPER LEAGUE TABLE AS OF APRIL 9TH, 2017
Log on to https://t.co/4rKOKkGuY0
*subject to change pic.twitter.com/PkyK06rLXg
- JOHORSouthernTigers (@OfficialJohor) April 9, 2017
Safiq would be rewarded for his sterling performance with JDT's sixth goal in the 58th minute, before capping a man-of-the-match performance by converting a penalty two minutes from time to take home the match ball.
The set-piece specialist, who is also expected to return to national team after a brief Malaysia retirement, has now scored four league goals in 2017 to match his tally from last season.
JDT will overtake co-leaders Pahang and Kedah if they win away to Kelantan on Wednesday.
Game Information
Malaysian Super League Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Johor Darul Ta'zim | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kedah | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kelantan United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kuala Lumpur | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kuching | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Negeri Sembilan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PDRM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pahang | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Perak | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Penang | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sabah | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Selangor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Terengganu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |