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| DOWN … Sabah’s Michael Baird falls to the ground after clashing with Kelantan’s Aziz Ismail during the Super League tie at the Likas Stadium last night. |
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah and Kelantan shared the spoils after ending their Super League tie in a stalemate draw at the Likas Stadium last night.
The home side was denied the victory by the goalpost at the dead when Leopold Alfonso Otong’s powerful attempt from about 20 metres hit the right side of the post.
But it was a game that could have gone either way as they managed to create enough chances to take the game into their own hands only to find out that they had to settle for a point.
The first half was an exciting affair with lots of action, and it was the visitors to who had the first chance in the game when national striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha saw his 12th minute close range attempt hit the side netting after he found space inside the box with Sabah custodian Syed Adney Syed Hussien already beaten.
Then a minute later, Sabah had their first try through flanker Shahrudin Yakup, who unleashed a long range attempt that went straight into the keeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat’s arms.
In the 20th minute, it was Sharudin again who tested Khairul for the second time.
This time, his waist-high attempt was blocked by the national custodian.
At the half hour mark, Kelantan could have taken the lead, but fortunately for Sabah, Mohamed Ghadar’s attempt was blocked by Adney.
With five minutes remaining into the half time break, Ghadar squandered another opportunity as his shot went inches wide.
But it did not end there as Sabah was presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead.
Alto Linus sent a perfect cross that found Bobby Gonzales at the far post, but unfortunately his weak attempt went wide.
After the break, it was the same scenario and Sabah had at least one genuine penalty claim when Bobby Gonzales was brought down inside the box in the 67th minute only to find the match official waving play on.
In the 59th minute, Michael Baird saw his 25metre try palmed away by the steady Fahmi.
And in the closing seconds of the game, Leopold, who came in for Bobby Gonzales earlier on, was presented with the chance to give over 10,000 home fans something to cheer for, only to find his attempt hit the goalpost.
With the draw, Sabah moved up one rung to 10th placing in the 14-team standings on six points from one win, three draws and two defeats.
