Kota Kinabalu: Sabah FC fought back to secure a 2-2 draw against Selangor FC in the first leg of their FA Cup Round of 16 tie at Likas Stadium on Wednesday.
In a tightly contested match, Sabah FC broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. Defender Dane Ingham jumped high to power home a header from a precise Park Jung-bin corner.
However, the lead was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Selangor FC striker Kay Sheku Tejan equalised with a header of his own from a set-piece free kick.
Selangor FC turned the game on its head just five minutes into the second half. Chrigor Moraes punished a defensive blunder by Sabah FC, unleashing a rocket into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
Eight minutes later, Park’s corner caused absolute chaos in the Selangor FC box. The visitors failed to clear, allowing Halim Saari to pounce and smash home a dramatic equaliser, leaving the tie deadlocked heading into the second leg at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium (MBPJ) on Sept 9.
Sabah FC head coach Juan Torres Garrido expressed optimism following his players’ performance, noting that while they should have capitalised on their chances, he acknowledged Selangor FC’s reputation as a superior team.
“I felt good throughout the match. We faced a strong opponent that many consider better than us, but we proved we are equal to them in many aspects.
“However, we should have scored more goals today. We created plenty of opportunities in open play, and our clinical edge is something we need to improve on,” he said.
He also remains positive that his players can rise to the challenge and repeat the strong performance in the return leg.
