IN A disappointing display, Sabah FC fell to DPMM FC with a final score of 1-2 during the Super League match held at the Likas Stadium last Sunday.
Despite a strong start that saw Sabah FC dominate the opening minutes and keep DPMM FC on the defensive, it was the visitors who struck first when they scored from a corner kick, with the unmarked Ebenezer Abban heading in the goal from close range in the 12th minute.
Despite their early goal, DPMM FC offered little threat for the remainder of the first half, allowing Sabah FC to push hard for an equaliser.
Their persistence eventually paid off in the 25th minute, when Gonzalo Di Renzo slotted home a neat, low cross from Miguel Cifuentes after a slick one-two with Fayadth Zulkifi to draw level.
Head coach Juan Torres Garrido named a refreshed starting eleven for the match, resting Dane Ingham, Park Jung-bin and Darren Lok.
While the team started strong, flaws began to emerge in the second half—particularly with their passing accuracy.
DPMM FC were the complete opposite, coming alive in the second half with a display of resilience and determination that suggested a highly effective halftime pep talk from their coach.
Twenty minutes after the restart, they regained the lead when Jordan David Murray capitalised on some neat passing to fire a powerful shot past goalkeeper Damien Lim.
Despite Sabah FC’s efforts to inject fresh energy into their squad, including the introduction of Dane, Darren and Park, the team struggled against their opponents’ well-organised defence.
There were no intelligent runs, the passing was poor and we kept building slowly from the back as if we were already leading the match.
We have this frustrating habit of making good forward passes, only to immediately play the ball backward. This constantly gives our opponents all the time in the world to reorganise their defence.
Players on the ball must be brave enough to drive into space to force opponents out of position, opening up space for their teammates.
It was a frustrating match to watch, marked by a lack of ideas up front and poor passing from the midfield. DPMM FC read the game expertly and won almost every second ball.
While the referee’s decisions were certainly under scrutiny, it was ultimately a poor performance from our players, and I am sure many fans left the stadium deeply disheartened by the outcome.
While this result is disappointing, all is not lost. It is still early in the season. We should put this defeat behind us and focus toward preparing the team for the next match.
