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| Standing from left, Eyo Matthew, Aldrine Agus, Razid Gapar, Umareng Bacok, Dendy Lowa, Leopold Alfonso Otong, squatting from right, Endre S. Tipay, Denisi Mekhadan, Didie Arizal Ibrahim, Jetko Romedius, Zackkalani Antanom. |
The scoreline could have been bigger, but no thanks to their faltering strikers, who squandered chance after chance.
It was Super League-based hitman Leopold Alfonso Otong who did the damage on the host after netting the solitary goal in the 27th minute.
Juil Nuatim said they created more than half a dozen goal-scoring chances, but were denied either by poor finishing or the in-formSDM’s custodian.
Nevertheless, the Sabah team manager is not complaining apart from wanting to see his charges be more clinical in their finishing in their upcoming matches.
“It was a good and well deserved victory,” Juil said, when contacted yesterday.
“It was also a tough game because we were playing against a side that has got nothing to lose. They (SDM) play to enjoy the game while us, we were under pressure, because we needed the victory to stay on top of the standings,” he added.
“Then again, we created more than enough chances to win the tie by a bigger scoreline, but unfortunately it didn’t happen because of our finishing as well as their (SDM) keeper, who was brilliant throughout.
“In football that happens (failing to score), but maybe today, it was one of those days for the boys.
“Despite playing against a side that is currently languishing at the bottom of the standings, but the feeling of winning is great, because the way they (SDM) played doesn’t reflect their position,” Juil added.
Juil also commented custodian Endre S. Tipay for being unbeatable in the Sabahawks goal while skipper Didie Arizal Ibrahim was an immoveable object at the heart of the defence and Dendy Lowa similarly so alongside him.
The rest of the players also received a pat on their backs from their manager, who insisted that like in their previous outings, they played wholeheartedly in searching for victory.
With the victory, Sabah registered eight wins out of 10 matches they have played thus far this season with the other two matches ending in draws.
For the record, this was their third away win after Melaka (4-1) and Kelantan (2-1).
The high flying Sabahawks lead the 13-team standings on 26 points.
They take on Terengganu’s T-Team in their next tie at home on Thursday (March 15).
