Cebagoo back to winning ways

New Sabah Times

ON TARGET … file picture of Rainol Masaat (left) during their 2-3 defeat to ATM Tentera Darat in their last home game. Yesterday, Rainol finally put his name in the scoresheet after netting the opener for his side.

KOTA KINABALU: Two second half strikes from Rainol Masaat and Md Arifyansah Jafar helped Sabah Cebagoo FC get back to winning ways in the FAM Cup challenge as they blanked Perak YBU FC 2-0 at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh yesterday. The State’s sole representative in the competition, who went into the tie at the back of two consecutive defeats, scored the opener through striker Rainol Masaat solo effort before Md Arifyansah added the second from set piece.

 This was their third win after six games, and the three points gained could push them further up the 11-team table. Head coach Razali Zinin when contacted said that he was delighted to have registered their second away win, which eventually see his side having a better away record than at home. They have won twice and lost once away while at home it is the other way round, as they won once and lost twice.

 And Razali said this win is just the right tonic for the team, and believes that it could help bring greater confidence into the team. On the match, Razali said: “We were a little bit shaky in the first half, but fortunately we managed to turn things around in the second.” “And I’m also happy to see that our strikers finally broke their duck,” he said referring to Rainol’s opener.

 After a scoreless first half, Cebagoo FC finally drew first blood when Rainol chips the ball past the opponent’s custodian in a one-on-one situation in the 65th minute. With five minutes remaining, Arifyansah scored the second when his well-taken freekick from about 30 metres out went straight into the back of the net.

 Meanwhile, club president Mohd Joh Wid congratulated the team for the victory, while wanting them to continue with the winning momentum. “I hope the team will continue to work hard and get desirable result … at home or away,” he said. Cebagoo will take on Pahang Kuantan Port or better known as Shahzan Muda FC in a home tie on March 24.