Corner kick goal denies Cebagoo full points

sports247.my

Mat Hafis (left) who scores the equaliser direct from a corner kick takes the ball away from Cebagoo’s Gerd Smith.

AN outrageous goal from Mat Hafis Ariffin denied Sabah Cebagoo FC the full points against Kuantan Port Shahzan Muda FC today. Cebagoo looked set for a second home win after Md Arifyanshah Japar’s had given the home side the lead with a simple tap in the first half injury time but Mat Hafis had other ideas. With nine minutes remaining, the midfielder did the unexpected as he curled the ball high and into the back of the net direct from a corner kick to force a draw at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Stadium.

Until then, Cebagoo had enough chances to win the game but striker Rainold Masaat was twice denied by the crossbar and saw one effort off target while Arifyanshah shot wide despite being unmarked late in the game. It was Cebagoo’s first draw of the season having won three and lost three for 10 points.

 Despite having the better chances, head coach Razali Zinin was particularly left unimpressed by the players’ commitment of the field. “They must change their attitude,” he said while offering an example that one of the players did nothing to offer support or get the ball from his teammates. “I was not satisfied with the performance today.

 If they were to play like that, it would be very hard to face a team like Penang … I don’t want to imagine what the score would be like,” he said. Coincidentally, free-scoring Penang will be Cebagoo’s next opponent on March 31. “The players must buck up against a strong side like Penang,” added Razali.