KUALA LUMPUR: Mohammed Ghaddar fired blanks but Johor Darul Ta'zim still edged PKNS 1-0 in Shah Alam on Wednesday to preserve their six-point advantage at the top of the Super League standings.
Making his debut following his transfer from Kelantan during the mid-year transfer window, Ghaddar marked his debut for Darul Ta'zim by squandering two of the game's best openings in a failed effort to add to his league-leading 18-goal tally.
However, the Lebanon striker atoned for his misses by setting up Amirulhadi Zainal to score the winner 15 minutes from time as Darul Ta'zim moved on to 30 points from 13 matches.
PKNS were unfortunate not to snatch an equaliser in stoppage-time when Darul Ta'zim goalkeeper Farizal Marlias tipped K. Gurusamy's curling free-kick on to the post.
Pahang and Kedah, just four days after meeting in the FA Cup final, stayed in touch with the three-time league champions by beating Selangor 2-0 and Kuala Terengganu T-Team 3-0 respectively.
Ken Ilso struck a first-half hat-trick for FA Cup winners Kedah in Alor Star while Matheus Alves scored twice for Pahang in the second half against Selangor, who ended the match with 10 men when Halim Zainal was sent off late on in Selayang.
Defeat saw Selangor slip to fifth after Perak drew 0-0 with Sarawak, who moved out of the relegation zone at Melaka's expense, in Ipoh.
Melaka slumped to a 3-0 defeat in Jengka against Felda United after resting their coach Eric Williams as Lucas Cano, Zah Rahan Krangar and Gaston Cellerino, with a penalty, scored for the hosts.
However, Melaka are only in the drop zone on goal difference as they are tied on 11 points with PKNS and Sarawak.
New Penang striker Sanna Nyasi had an immediate impact for the league's bottom team as his brace earned his side a 2-2 draw with Kelantan, who replied through S Thinagaran and Danial Ashraf Abdullah.
In the Premier League, leaders Negri Sembilan remain two points clear of Terengganu despite being held by Darul Ta'zim II, who earned their point thanks to a last-minute strike by Jeronimo Barrales to cancel Marko Simic's opener at Paroi.
Terengganu downed Universiti Teknologi Mara 2-1 at home to move a point ahead of Kuala Lumpur into second place while Perak SEDC dropped out of the promotion places after a 4-1 defeat to Police in Melaka.
Other matches in the second-tier saw Kuantan draw 3-3 with Sabah at home while Perlis edged Malaysian Indians 3-2 in Petaling Jaya thanks to on-loan Queens Park Rangers youngster Brandon Adams scoring two early goals.