Malaysia Super League: Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC had to settle for a point after being reduced to 10 men in a 1-1 draw against Kuching City FC in their Super League match at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras here, last night.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was in the spotlight during two crucial incidents: Kuching City’s equaliser in the 14th minute and a red card for new KL City defender Adrijan Rudovic in the 39th minute.
KL City coach Miroslav Kuljanac also suffered an early setback after defender Mohamad Kamal Azizi Mohamad Zabri was stretchered off in the fourth minute due to an injury in a clash with an opponent. J. Partiban replaced him.
However, The City Boys squad managed to open the scoring through captain Paulo Josue who scored a beautiful goal with a shot from outside the penalty box in the 12th minute, before Kuching City’s equaliser through Yuki Tanigawa’s finish two minutes later was cancelled.
However, City Boys opened the scoring, thanks to captain Paulo Josue, who scored a fine goal with a shot from outside the penalty box in the 12th minute, before Yuki Tanigawa’s finish cancelled Kuching City’s equaliser two minutes later. Umpire S.Logeswaran took the decision after reviewing the fieldside monitor.
The decision did not discourage coach Aidil Sharin Sahak’s visiting team, which tied the score with a goal from Pedro Henrique in the 19th minute.
The VAR intervened again when, in the 34th minute, after a dangerous challenge on Kuching City forward Jordan Minta, Logeswaran overturned Rudovic’s yellow card and gave him the red card after a review on the monitor.
Meanwhile, Sabah FC drew goalless against Penang FC at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu.
Sabah, led by Datuk Ong Kim Swee, looked dangerous with quick attacks on both sides from Saddil Ramdani and Daniel Ting. However, a series of good crosses could not produce tangible results.
The best chance for the home team arrived in stoppage time, when Saddil’s corner deflected towards Gabriel Peres, whose header was brilliantly parried by goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman.
Initially, the match was scheduled to be played for the first time with VAR at the Likas stadium, but it could not be held due to technical problems.
Earlier, Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub, a member of the Malaysian Football League (MFL) Board of Directors, presented the trophy award for the best starting eleven of the Malaysian League last season to Sabah’s captain, Park Tae-su before the start of the match.
