Kelantan beat LionsXII 2-1

Football: Kelantan beat LionsXII 2-1 in opening Malaysia Super League

SINGAPORE: It was a long wait but Singapore fans finally got to witness Singapore's return to the Malaysia Cup after a 17-year absence.

The LionsXII kicked off the Malaysia Super League campaign against Kelantan on Tuesday evening at Jalan Besar Stadium, but much to the disappointment of the local fans, the Malaysian side won 2-1.

It was a sea of red at the stadium as Singapore football fans packed the 7,500-capacity stadium.

On the field, the action got off to an explosive start, and Singapore could have gone ahead had Hariss Harun's header ended at the back of the net.

After repeated attempts, defender Baihakki Khaizan's glancing header from a free kick gave the Lions the first goal on the half-hour mark.

Just before the break, the visitors equalised through Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, to make it 1-1.

In the second half, Kelantan's Muhamad Ghaddar won a penalty after Singapore's custodian Izwan Mahbud brought him down in the 79th minute.

Ghaddar converted the spot-kick to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage, which ended as the final score.

LionsXII head coach V Sundramoorthy said: "I badly wanted at least a draw or a win tonight especially [when] the fans are here to support, and I hope the boys [have] done enough to bring them back for the next game.

"We are playing against the M League champions, so they are very experienced and you can see they have many good players.

"As for our boys it's after a long time -- 17 years coming back, playing against an experienced team. They definitely learn a few things out there."

Singapore next play Kedah away in Alor Star on Saturday.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~