Kota Kinabalu: Sabah FC need to improve more despite winning their second match of the new Super League season with a 3-1 victory over Kelantan United at Likas Stadium on Wednesday night.
Head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee was not too pleased that his team were unable to keep up the momentum and conceded an injury time goal.
With the support of some 13,000 fans inside the stadium, Sabah FC started the game in an aggressive mood and created a number of scoring chances in the early stages but were unable to convert any of them.
The breakthrough only came in the 22nd minute when Darren Lok scored from the spot after Daniel Ting was fouled inside the box.
Captain Park Taesu then extended their lead four minutes later with a well placed shot beyond the reach of the opposition’s goalkeeper at the far corner.
The third goal was delivered by this season’s import Telmo Castanheira with a header courtesy of a pinpoint cross from Daniel a minute after the restart.
With several substitutions made in the second half, the home side seemed to lose their dominance slightly but still managed to keep the visitors at bay until Indra Putra struck with a long range free kick one minute into injury time.
Ong said the goal by Indra was a wake-up call for his players that they have to maintain their focus until the end of the game.
“It is important to get another three points tonight, but I was not pleased with our play after taking the three-goal lead and conceding in the last minute.
“We need to improve in the coming matches and players who come in (as substitutes) have the responsibility to ensure that they are able to maintain the game pattern,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah FC remain top of the league table with six points and they will next play Kuching City FC away at the State Stadium in Kuching on Monday (March 6).
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