New Sabah Times
KOTA KINABALU: Below-par Sabah Cebagoo FC was inflicted with their first home defeat after being stunned 1-0 by 10-man Pahang Kuantan FA in a FAM Cup tie at the Likas Stadium yesterday.
Hopes were high that the Sepanggar-based outfit would nick their second home win in a row, but instead they disappointed the more than 1,000 fans who turned up for the clash.
They put up a below par performance, and too often looked lost, thus allowing their rivals to dictate play.
Cebagoo FC was trailing after only 23 minutes of action when Hazwan Fakhrullah’s well executed freekick went straight into the back of the net.
The goal was enough for Kuantan FA to nick their first win after kick starting their campaign with a 0-3 away defeat to Penang before being held to a three-all draw by Kelantan Tumpat FA prior to the trip to the Land Below the Wind.
But it was a dull opening hour from both sides, as the match only became lively in the last half hour.
And Cebagoo FC was lucky not to concede a second goal, when Pahang Kuantan FA’s Md Kamal Rodiarjt Md Ali seemed to have been brought down inside the penalty box, but fortunately for the host, the match official, Ahmad Tajuddin, waved play on.
With 10 minutes remaining on the clock, Cebagoo FC was saved by the goalpost from a Moohamad Khairul effort.
But as the clock was ticking, Cebagoo FC was presented with the chance to draw level when they were awarded a freekick just outside the box after Rainol Masaat was brought down by Amrullah Abd Razab, who was subsequently given the marching orders for two yellow cards. But midfielder Md Arifyansah Jafar saw his attempt go wide.
