Sabah’s first ‘away’ win

New Sabah Times

GOALMOUTH MELEE … Sabah’s Hendrik Helmke and Brendan Gan clash with Kuala Lumpur captain Mohd Aslam Raja during their Super League tie at the Likas Stadium last night.

 KOTA KINABALU: Sabah scored their first ‘away’ win of the season, albeit that it was played at the Likas Stadium, after notching a comfortable 4-2 over Premier League-bound Kuala Lumpur at the Likas Stadium last night. The match that was supposed to be played away, but at Kuala Lumpur’s request was held at the Likas Stadium, saw Razid Gapar, Shahrudin Yakup, Radzi Mohd Hussin and Leopold Alfonso Otong all putting their names on the scoresheet for Sabah while Zakaria Charara and Mohd Afiq Azmi scored for Kuala Lumpur.

 Sabah started the game on a bright note when defender Razid headed home the opener after just 10 minutes into the game, capitalising on a blunder by Kuala Lumpur custodian Mohd Zahid Ahmad, who failed to make a clean catch off a corner taken by Shahrudin. At the half-hour mark, it could have been 2-0 for Sabah, but unfortunately, nippy striker Juffry Omopor saw his close range attempt from the left side of the Kuala Lumpur goalmouth hit the goalpost.

 The opening half saw Sabah leading 1-0. Eight minutes after the break, Shahrudin made it 2-0 for Sabah with a fine solo effort when his shot which seemed to be a cross, deflected off defender Ahmad Jihad’s legs before going into the back of the net. But Kuala Lumpur were back in the game in the 72nd minute when Zakaria Charara scored from the spot after Razid committed a foul on former Sabah striker Stanley Bernard inside the penalty box.

 Radzi restored Sabah’s lead five minutes later with a long range effort before Mohd Afiq reduced the deficit yet again with a header in the 82nd minute. But Leopold Alfonso Otong made sure that the three points were theirs when his well executed effort from about 30 metres went straight into the back of the net. The win puts Sabah, who went into the game in 12th placing in the 14-team standings, on 25 points. They take on Johor FC away on Tuesday.