Penang secured their maiden win of the Super League campaign with a 2:0 victory over fourth-placed Sabah in Regular Season Round 2 on Thursday. The result ends a barren run for the hosts, who had not won since April and sat bottom of the table with zero points from two defeats.
G. Di Renzo opened the scoring in the 40th minute, giving Penang the lead they had been searching for all season. The goal came after a sustained period of pressure from the home side, who had been out-performed in previous outings. Sabah responded with increased urgency as half-time approached, but could not find an equaliser before the break.
H. Tokyo doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute, extending Penang's lead and effectively ending Sabah's hopes of a comeback. The visitors had started the season with two wins and six points, but found themselves on the wrong end of a result they did not anticipate. Three substitutions followed on 60 minutes as both managers reshuffled their lines.
The win moves Penang off the bottom of the standings for the first time this season. Sabah remain in fourth place but now face questions about their consistency away from home. The gap between them and the top four could widen if results do not improve.
For Penang, the victory marks a turning point after two defeats and a string of unconvincing performances. They had lost 0:1 to DPMM on their most recent outing and now sit above the relegation zone. The result suggests the team may have found something in their approach.