Tambadaus beat Police 3-1
Luiz Carlos Junior marked his return to the star ng line-up with a brace to lead Sabah to a 3-1 Premier League win over PDRM at the Likas Stadium last night.
KOTA KINABALU: Luiz Carlos Junior marked his return to the starting lineup with a brace to lead Sabah to a 3-1 Premier League win over PDRM at the Likas Stadium last night.
The victory was Sabah's third on-thetrot and propelled them to second in the 11-team league.
Sabah went into the match unbeaten in the last three games and they showed intent to keep the momentum going by going on the attack from the start.
The match was only four minutes old when the first goal of the night was scored.
Brazilian forward Junior, who missed the last match through muscle injury, expertly executed a free-kick by curling the ball past the five-man wall and into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Sabah could have added a second in the 20th minute from another free kick but Luka Milunovic's powerful shot was pushed to safety by goalkeeper Willfred Anak Jabun.
PDRM pressed hard to find the equaliser and nearly got their reward in the 28th minute.
From another free kick, the Cops captain Shahurain Abu Samah targeted the top right corner with a powerful shot but Sabah custodian Rozaimie Rohim tipped the effort onto the bar.
Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh tried his luck on the rebound but his shot went over the bar.
The miss proved costly for PDRM as Maxisus Musa led a counter-attack before sending a low cross for Paunovic to slide home and doubled Sabah's lead on the night.
Maxsius and Paunovic then had the chance to make it three shortly after but their efforts from inside the box were thwarted by brave defending from the visitors.
The first half ended 2-0 in favour of the Tambadaus.
Sabah started the second half just like the first and this time they needed only two minutes after the restart to make it 3-0.
Paunovic found acres of space on the left flank and unselfishly squared for the unmarked Junior to side-foot home from close range.
PDRM were unpertubed and in the 52nd minute they finally beat Rozaimie.
Shahrurain's free kick caused a melee inside the box and lanky defender Redzovic Argzim stabbed the ball home to pull a goal back for PDRM.
The teams tried to outdo each other for the rest of the half but despite several chances, no more goals were registered.
With the victory Sabah moved to second in the 11-team league on 10 points from three wins, one draw and a defeat.
Sabah will next face Negeri Sembilan at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium on March 9.