USM DEFEATS PDRM

Convincing performance... USM FC team displays brilliant action in opening match of premier league in USM stadium.

PENANG, 31 Jan. – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through its team, USM FC started off the Premier League 2011 victoriously when they defeated PDRM 1-0 in their home grounds.

Muhammad Afzan Zainal Abidin scored the only goal for USM FC in the 10^th minute of the game, outside the penalty box. He sent the ball past the PDRM goalkeeper, Muhd Hamdan Sairi after receiving it from outside the penalty box from Mohd Failee Mohd Ghazli

In the presence of a 2,000 strong crowd, USM took the offensive with several interesting moves in their attack which panicked the defence and the goalkeeper of PDRM.

PDRM attempted to catch up with several dangerous attacks from every angle, but the USM defence lead by Mohd Fariss Azlan Mat Isa kept things under control until half time.

The second half of the game saw a balanced match as there were few attacks from both teams towards the goalmouth and most of the action was in midfield.

In the 65^th minute, PDRM almost equalised the score with a corner kick which USM goalkeeper, Jeevanathan Gunasekaran failed to save and which was kicked in by Fazuan Abdullah. However, the goal was disqualified because the PDRM striker was 'off side'.

Team manager, Mohd Azizuddin Mohd. Shariff said that overall his team is thankful for their first victory and described it as a boost of encouragement for the players to continue showing excellent form in upcoming matches.

Nevertheless, he also expressed his disappointment as he believed there is a weakness in midfield and that overall, the players were only playing at 60% of their true performance.

"I am worried that our players are overconfident and they are taking this game lightly because of their excellent performance in the previous friendly match, but on the whole, this was a balanced game," he said.

Overall, USM FC has succeeded in collecting 3 precious points and is ahead of PDRM with the 1-0 win in the first Premier League match at the USM Stadium, here yesterday.

USM FC is now getting ready to face ATM in the next match, to be held at Stadium Batu Kawan next Monday.