Football: LionsXII get first MSL point in boring 0-0 draw with Kedah

By Les Tan/Red Sports

The best chance for the LionsXII in the first half fell to Shahdan Sulaiman but the midfielder headed over the bar with the Kedah goalkeeper stranded. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Alor Setar, Saturday, January 14, 2012 — The Singapore LionsXII played out a drab 0-0 draw with Kedah to earn their first point in the Malaysian Super League (MSL).

The LionsXII lost their opening match 1-2 to Kelantan last Tuesday and this result leaves them lying 12th in the 14-team table.

It was a different LionsXII team from the one that played the opening match against Kelantan. Hariss Harun moved into the centre of defence along side Baihakki Khaizan because of a ligament injury to first-choice centreback Safuwan Baharudin.

Shahdan Sulaiman played a central midfield role with Isa Halim while Yasir Hanapi and Juma’at Jantan were out wide. Agu Casmir led the attack with captain Shahril Ishak playing just behind in a 4-4-1-1 formation.

The best chance of the first half for the LionsXII fell to Shahdan Sulaiman who missed an open goal. In the 22nd minute, Shahril Ishak broke down the right flank and crossed for Agu Casmir whose shot was blocked. The ball looped over the 6-yard box and Yasir Hanapi beat the Kedah goalkeeper to the ball and hooked it back for Shahdan. However, with the keeper away from his goal line, Shahdan headed over the bar.

The first half was also marked by LionsXII goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud having a few nervous moments. Izwan dropped two crosses but Kedah did not punish the mistakes.

Kedah’s one good chance of the first half came in the 38th minute. However, Daniel Baroni could not get a final touch to a shot on target and Izwan smothered the danger for LionsXII.

After the half-time break, Agu got a chance to break the deadlock from Shahril’s accurate headed knock down to him in the penalty box. However, the Kedah goalkeeper and defenders snuffed out both of Agu’s attempts to get a shot away.

The LionsXII created only two further chances worth speaking about in the second half. A LionsXII corner saw the Kedah goalie left stranded again but Shahdan’s half volley back again was not on target.

Then LionsXII captain Shahril missed the best chance of the second half. Irwan Shah skipped a Kedah defender and made enough space for himself to swing in a sweet cross from the left flank. Shahril, with space and time, could only glance the header across the face of goal and wide. Given the clear chance, it was no surprise that Shahril was seen hitting the ground in frustration after his miss.

Agu limped off in the 88th minute with a suspected hamstring injury. If the injury is serious, it will give LionsXII head coach V Sundramoorthy another selection headache.

The LionsXII next play Kuala Lumpur at home on Tuesday, January 17th, at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Looking for the LionsXII’s fixtures? All here: Singapore LionsXII fixtures

Final Score
Kedah 0 LionsXII 0

Singapore LionsXII Starting Lineup
Izwan (GK); Raihan Rahman (Shakir Hamzah 45′), Hariss Harun, Baihakki Khaizan, Irwan Shah; Isa Halim, Shahdan Sulaiman, Juma’at Jantan, Yasir Hanapi (Firdaus Kasman 81′); Shahril Ishak, Agu Casmir (Madhu Mohana 88′)

Substitutes: Hyrulnizam Jumaat (GK), Fazli Ayob, Madhu Mohana, Khairul Nizam, Sevki Sha’aban, Firdaus Kasman, Shakir Hamzah

Kedah Starting Lineup
Abdul Hadi, Fauzie Nan, Azmizi, Amar Rohidan, Khyril Muhymeen, Daniel Boroni, Fazliata (Syamin), See Kok Luen (Abdul Latif), Fiqkry (Thiru), Faizal, Sabre Abu

Substitutes: Baddrol Bakhtiar, Khairul Helmi, Ahmad Basri, Muhaimin, Syamin, Thiru, Abdul Latif

How would you rate the match between Kedah and LionsXII?