KUALA LUMPUR: A late equaliser by Jeon Woo-young saw Melaka end Johor Darul Ta'zim's seven-match winning run in the Super League with a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
However, three-time champions Darul Ta'zim still extended their advantage at the top of the table to six points after second-placed Pahang slumped to a 3-2 defeat to Kelantan in Kuantan.
Darul Ta'zim were missing several key players including Aidil Zafuan Radzak, Gonzalo Cabrera and Afiq Fazail through injury and suspension and should have taken the lead in the 20th minute at the Hang Jebat Stadium.
But Gabriel Guerra saw his header hit the post and the Argentine was lucky to escape remain on the pitch when he kneed and then kicked Melaka right-back G. Puaneswaran in the head, escaping with a yellow card.
Just moments later Safiq Rahim put Darul Ta'zim ahead in the 59th minute with a curling free-kick though Guerra attempted to claim credit for the goal by indicating to his captain that he got a flick to the ball.
Melaka, with memories of a 7-0 drubbing at Larkin on Apr 9 still fresh, struck through South Korean midfielder Jeon three minutes from the end.
Taking a cross from R. Surendren on his chest, Jeon ghosted past young defender Dominic Tan to slot the ball past Izham Tarmizi Roslan for his fourth league goal of the season.
Pahang spurned a chance to close the gap on the leaders after falling behind to Alessandro Celin's scissor-kick goal in the 17th minute.
Although Matheus Alves twice equalised for Pahang, Super League top scorer Mohammed Ghaddar replied almost immediately each time to extend Kelantan's superb away record to six matches unbeaten in the league.
Ghaddar has also now scored 18 goals in the Super League to remain six ahead Alves, the next highest on 12 goals.
Kuala Terengganu Team, who like Kelantan have been docked six points for various payment irregularities, clawed back half of that deficit with a 3-0 home win against Perak through goals by Mahamadou Samassa, Wan Ahmad Amirzafran Wan Nadris and Farhod Tadjiev.