SELANGOR, KL CITY SHARE SPOILS IN GOALLESS KLANG VALLEY DERBY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The highly anticipated Klang Valley Derby between Selangor FC and Kuala Lumpur City FC ended in a goalless draw after both sides failed to find the net in their Super League clash at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium tonight.

Selangor dominated the early exchanges, but KL City nearly stunned the hosts in the 25th minute through a golden opportunity by Victor Abril, who narrowly missed the target from the left side after receiving a fine pass from Nicolao Manuel.

Towards the end of the first half, Selangor goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel proved to be a solid last line of defence, denying a close-range header from Muhammad Safawi Rasid off a corner kick to maintain the 0-0 scoreline at halftime.

In the second half, both teams pushed harder in search of a breakthrough, resulting in several physical duels, including a clash between Selangor defender Richmond Ankrah and Safawi in the 66th minute, but the result ended in the teams sharing the spoils.

Meanwhile, at the Penang State Stadium in Batu Kawan, Imigresen FC had to settle for a point after being held to a 2-2 draw by Sabah FC.

Both teams began cautiously before the home side broke the deadlock in the 27th minute through Brazilian striker Joao Pedro, who fired home a powerful shot off a pass from compatriot Eduardo Jose Sosa from the right flank to beat visiting goalkeeper Damien Lim Chien Khai.

In the second half, Sabah equalised in the 50th minute via Stuart Wilkin, following a fine move initiated by Miguel Angel Garrido Cifuentes to Fergus Tierney, whose strike hit the crossbar before Wilkin calmly converted the rebound.

Just three minutes later, Sabah took the lead when Cifuentes found the net to make it 2-1.

However, the hosts, guided by Yusri Che Lah, refused to give up and levelled the score in the 79th minute through a strike from Sosa.

Sabah almost secured all three points when Ajdin Mujagic scored in the 83rd minute, but the goal was disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review confirmed a foul in the build-up.

Imigresen were reduced to 10 men in the closing minutes after substitute Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat was sent off following a VAR review for a dangerous challenge, but held on for the draw.

-- BERNAMA