SHAH ALAM: Sarawak moved to mid-table safety when they beat PKNS 3-2 for their second consecutive away win in the Super League at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.
Having won just once in the league in five previous matches, the pressure was on coach David Usop to produce a result, and Sarawak responded with goals by Mateo Roskam, Mark Hartmann and Hafiz Abu Bakar to return home with three points.
PKNS, who saw their three-match un-beaten run in the league ended, responded through Lucas Espindola and Khairul Ramadhan Zauwawi, but paid the price for spurning a string of chances, particularly by Safee Sali.
PKNS coach E. Elavarasan handed first starts of the season to midfielder K. Gurusamy and winger Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, while Amiridzwan Taj Tajudin and Safee returned to the first XI. Youngster Rodney Celvin Akwensivie also made his first start for Sarawak this season.
Tommy Mawat Bada, recently called up to the national Under-22 squad, almost put Sarawak ahead in the 16th minute, but his near-post header was brilliantly saved by Zamir Selamat.
But Sarawak did not have to wait long to score, when just two minutes later, Croatian striker Roskam headed the ball in after Mark Hartmann's curling effort from outside the box came off the crossbar with Zamir well beaten.
PKNS responded with a low Espindola effort which was comfortably held by Shahril Saari, before Safee connected poorly with an attempted bicycle kick in the six-yard box as another chance went begging.
But just 10 minutes into the second half, PKNS conjured an equaliser out of nothing as Espindola's speculative attempt from a distance deflected off a Sarawak player and deceived Shahril in goal.
Philippine international Hartmann restored Sarawak's lead on the hour-mark when he fired in from the edge of the penalty, which found the far top corner for his third Super League goal.
Substitute Hafiz made it 3-1 with an angled strike, just two minutes after replacing Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin, after being left unmarked on the right of the box.
Patrick Wleh was unlucky not to reduce the arrears for PKNS in the 73rd minute when his shot hit the crossbar and bounced off the line with Safee's follow-up header blocked by Shahril.
Safee spurned another opportunity just minutes later when he blazed over from close range after Shahril had parried a shot, before Khairul Ramadhan reduced the arrears in stoppage-time with a stooping far-post header.