Kuala Lumpur captain and forward Paulo Josue played a pivotal role in his team’s 3-1 victory over Kelantan in a Malaysia Super League match held on Friday at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru. The 37-year-old Josue scored twice from free-kicks, demonstrating his enduring set-piece prowess and helping his side secure their second win of the season.

Despite having lost some pace with age, Josue’s precision on dead-ball situations remained a key asset for Kuala Lumpur. He acknowledged the importance of set-pieces as scoring opportunities and expressed satisfaction with his contributions. “Set-pieces are always a great opportunity for every team, and last night I was happy to hit two good balls and see them both find the target,” he said. He also credited his involvement with the Malaysian national team in the recent Hyundai AFF Cup for maintaining his match fitness and readiness at the start of the league season.

The match initially saw Kelantan take the lead just before halftime when Nigerian winger Philip Dandada Musa capitalized on a defensive error by Kuala Lumpur’s midfielder Saiful Jamaluddin, calmly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Ameerul Eqhwan Fauzi. However, Kuala Lumpur responded strongly in the second half.

The equalizer came in the 53rd minute through centreback Adam Nor Azlin, who executed a remarkable scissor-kick finish off a corner delivery from Giancarlo Gallifuoco, despite tight marking by three defenders. Shortly afterward, Josue restored the lead in the 57th minute by curling a precise free-kick from 21 metres beyond Kelantan goalkeeper Wan Harif Hazli.

Josue sealed the victory in the 82nd minute with an impressive long-range free-kick from nearly 35 metres, cementing a memorable performance. Following the win, Kuala Lumpur climbed to fifth place in the league standings with six points from four matches. Kelantan, meanwhile, remain at the bottom of the table without a point from four games.