Kota Kinabalu: Head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee is happy Sabah FC has completed the formalities of making the quarter-final of the Malaysia Cup competition following their 1-1 draw with Kuching City FC in the return leg at Likas Stadium on Saturday night.
They came to the tie with a 3-0 lead from the first leg and looked comfortable enough after an early scare when Amir Amri Salleh shot wide for the visitors with Khairul Fahmi Che Mat only to beat.
Right back Rizal Ghazali was the unlikely scorer when he put Sabah FC ahead at the far post by diverting a free kick taken by Saddil Ramdani into the net in the 26th minute.
They missed many opportunities in the second half to extend the lead and were duly punished when the unmarked Rames Lai Ban Huat headed in the equaliser in the 58th minute.
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They will next take on Perak FC who upset Kedah FC 4-3 on aggregate in another last 16 tie.
“Of course we wanted to win the game but a draw was good enough for us to progress to the next round.
“This is more important for me, but to concede a goal in the game was rather disappointing.
“We lost focus as we tried to attack more to find another goal that allowed them to find the equaliser.
“We knew it was never easy to beat Kuching City FC today because they had two weeks to prepare for this game,” he said after the game.
He is also aware that Perak FC are a difficult opponent when the two sides meet in the first leg to be played at Likas Stadium on September 15.
“Based on recent results and performances, Perak FC have improved a lot since they hired a new coach in Yusri Che Lah who has vast experience.
“They have beaten a seeded team and we cannot take them lightly otherwise we will suffer the same fate as Kedah FC.
“We therefore must take advantage of our home game to ensure that we will be in a more comfortable position for the second leg in Perak,” added Ong.
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