KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan put up a spirited fightback as they came from behind to beat Perak 3-2 in a pulsating Super League match at Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Bahru on Saturday.
The never-say-die attitude from the home team saw them twice equalising the score before eventually netting the winner and they have one man to thank for the win, midfielder Do Dong-hyun.
On his return to the red of Kelantan, Mohammad Ghaddar looked extremely motivated to prove a point. He burst through in the 2nd minute, but Brendan Gan came back to clear the danger.
The home side were asking all the questions in the first part of the first half but their decision-making in the final third of the pitch was a letdown.
Slowly but surely Perak started to warm up to the task at hand with the midfield duo of Brendan and Kenny Pallraj beginning to gain a foothold in the match.
Perak’s increased ball possession paid off in the 21st minute when Brendan’s cross found Nor Hakim Hassan inside the box. The former T-Team FC forward calmly lifted the ball over Khairul Fahmi Che Mat for Perak to claim the lead in the match.
Surprisingly Kelantan came out of the break a different side and with more bite between their teeth, finally started to threaten Perak’s goal. Both Ghaddar and Bruno Lopes had chances to score but found Hafizul Hakim to be in inspired form.
The home side would not be denied a third time when Do rose higher than Robert Cornthwaite to meet Badhri Radzi’s cross and managed to glance a header past Hafizul in the 68th minute to level the score.
The home didn’t even have the chance to complete their celebrations when they find themselves trailing once again. From the restart, Nor Hakim beat two markers on the byline before squaring for Wander Luis to tap into an empty net for Perak to take the lead again.
The same combination would work in favour of Kelantan in the 77th minute as they somehow found themselves back on level pegging for the second time in the match. Do confidently side footed the ball past a stranded Hafizul after receiving a well-placed Badhri header.
Who else but Do that popped up in the 88th minute to complete his hat-trick and complete an incredible comeback for Kelantan. The South Korean beat Hafizul for the third time in the match after he pounced on a loose ball inside the box.