KUALA LUMPUR: Kedah emerged triumphant in the Northern derby with a 4-1 win over Penang in a Super League clash at the Darul Aman Stadium yesterday.
The empathic win was the perfect response from the Red Eagles following their 4-2 loss to Selangor last week after returning to action after three months. Kedah's matches were postponed for 14 days after some of their players tested positive for Covid-19.
Kedah coach Aidil Sharin Sahak had to do without the suspended Brazilian centreback Renan Alves who was sent off in the loss to Selangor. But the team were clearly not affected by his absence.
Ivory Coast's Tchetche Kipre started the ball rolling for Kedah with his 17th-minute strike, and four minutes later skipper Baddrol Bakhtiar doubled their lead.
Kipre struck his second goal in the 38th minute, but Penang reduced the deficit against the run of play through midfielder David Rowley's strike in the box in the 44th minute.
Kedah's Liberian striker Kpah Sherman restored their three-goal cushion with a close range shot in the 54th minute.
Penang's substitute Jafri Firdaus Chew was lucky to stay on the pitch after his high leg challenge left Kedah's Lebanese midfielder Rabih Ataya's knee bloodied. However, referee Zamzaidi Katimin only flashed Jafri the yellow card in the 74th minute.
The win moved Kedah a rung up to fourth place in the 12-team Super League with 29 points from 15 matches. Penang remained third with 31 points from 18 matches.