LionsXII secure first away win against Sabah

SABAH: The LionsXII have clinched their first away win in the Malaysian Super League.

V. Sundramoorthy's charges made their way up to Sabah with the hopes of picking up their second win in a week.

With Safuwan Baharuding picking up a one-match suspension midweek, vice-captain, Hariss Harun slipped back into the middle of defence with Baihakki Khaizan. Just as Baihakki scored through a set-piece against Kedah in the LionsXII first match, Hariss nodded home in the 21st minute.

At the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, the Lions opened accounts first, through a Hariss Harun header in the 20^th  minute.

Drama erupted on the half-hour mark when both teams were down to 10 men after two players were shown the red card for a scuffle. In the 34th minute, Sabah's defender Mafry Balang lost his head and threw a punch at Irwan Shah. The LionsXII defender's retaliation left the referee with no choice but to send both men off.

With both sides reduced to 10 men and the one goal lead favouring the visitors, the LionsXII adopted a defensive tactic.

Sundram's charges moved into a 4-4-1 formation with captain Shahril Ishak playing up alone as the lone striker.

The second half continued in the same vein, with the Singapore side playing deep in their own half and opting to attack on the rare break. Sabah held 63 per cent of the possession but were unable to convert possession into clear chances, much less goals.

The best chance of the game fell to the home side's Australian import Brendan Gan, but Baihakki was able to get himself between the ball and the goal. Soon after, the LionsXII's left-back Shakir Hamzah managed to run forward on a rare counter-attack and whip in a cross that substitute Sufian Anuar galloped forward to meet with a wild volley. The shot was no more than a whimper and failed to trouble, much less threaten Sabah's keeper, Abdul Kadir.

The game continued with Sabah parking themselves in the LionsXII's half before the referee brought the game to an end, signalling the LionsXII's second consecutive victory, much to the chagrin of the 10,000 odd Malaysian fans in attendance.