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LionsXII go four points clear at the top

SINGAPORE – After his goal against Negeri Sembilan that saw the LionsXII rise to the top of the table last week, Shahril Ishak once again led the way as his double clinched a 2-1 victory against Perak at the Jalan Besar Stadium this evening.

SINGAPORE – After his goal against Negeri Sembilan that saw the LionsXII rise to the top of the table last week, Shahril Ishak once again led the way as his double clinched a 2-1 victory against Perak at the Jalan Besar Stadium this evening.

His goals were enough to see the LionsXII make it six wins out of six at home this season. But more importantly, it consolidated their cushion in pole position with 23 points, four ahead of nearest rival Selangor.

Backed on by a 6680-strong crowd, the LionsXII showed no signs of wilting under the pressure of being perched at the summit of the table.

V Sundramoorthy’s charges looked comfortable from the off, displaying the verve and vigour of a side challenging to win the Malaysian Super League.

Slick in movement and dominant in possession, it did not take long for the deadlock to be broken.

In the eighth minute, a delicate pass from midfielder Hariss Harun saw captain Shahril clean through, who delightedly chipped it over Perak’s onrushing goalkeeper Farizal Marlias to draw first blood.

And the home side continued to attack after that. Defender Safuwan Baharudin saw his goal-bound header cleared off the line on the 23rd minute as the LionsXII continued laying siege on the Perak’s goal.

And when the home side doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when their No 17 netted his second of the day, the inevitable dawned on Perak.

Although they might have halved the deficit deep into stoppage time through Rafiuddin Roddin, it was too little too late.

Despite the win, Sundram believes there is further room for improvement as they enter the second half of the season.

He said: “The boys have done great but I think we can do better – we need to stay focused up till the end.

“We also need to get our players in position and keep working at it.

“But in a season there will be ups and downs – and the moment you’re not playing your best but still getting the points, it speaks well of us as a team and we will push to the wire.”

But his opposite counterpart Azraai Khor believes the LionsXII can go all the way.

The Perak coach said: “Maybe … yes. If they can maintain this consistency I see no reason why they cannot go all the way.

“Sundram has done a good job and judging from tonight, they have a good combination of experienced players and young talent.”

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