By ERIC SAMUEL

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin lived up to his Baby-Faced Assassin nickname yesterday.

The 28-year-old Ashaari scored a brace to power basement side Terengganu to a dramatic 3-2 win over leaders Armed Forces in a Super League match at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.

Ashaari was on target in the 81st and 94th minutes after left flanker Khairol Rahmadhan Zawawi had given the Turtles the lead in the 29th minute. Forces scored through St Vincent and Grenadines striker Marlon Alex James (75th) and Christie Jayaseelan (89th).

Getting rough: Terengganu defenders fighting for the ball with Armed Forces strikers during their Super League match at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu yesterday. — ZABIDI TUSIN / The Star

The victory was a huge sigh of relief for coach E. Elavarasan. They are now ninth in the 12-team league with eight points.

“To get a huge result against a team like Forces is simply great. It did not come easy as we won right on the buzzer. Anyway, I am happy for the boys because we played without our two foreign players and two other regulars in the squad,” said Elavarasan.

Centrebacks Vincent Bikana of Cameroon, Mohd Faizal Mohd and midfielder Ismail Faruqi were out on suspension while striker Effa Owona is recuperating from a knee injury.

Elavarasan believes the win is the start of better things for his team.

“We have a good team. I am sure we will get better and the results will come,” said Elavarasan, who will have his full team for the FA Cup second round tie against Penang on Tuesday.

Forces coach B. Sathianathan blasted his players after the defeat.

“We started badly. And when we got back our momentum, it was too late. I have warned them time and time again not to underestimate any team. Against Negri Sembilan last week, we were fortunate to escape with a draw. Today, we paid the price of conceding a goal in stoppage time,” said the former national coach.

Related posts:

• Ashaari leads Terengganu to first win
• Striker Abdul Manaf believes Terengganu can bounce back
• Terengganu out to maintain impressive home record
• Pahang whip Terengganu to stretch lead at the top
• Kelantan fired up to stage fightback against Terengganu