Kota Kinabalu: Head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee conceded that Sabah FC were a bit lucky to pick up the maximum three points in their dramatic 4-3 Borneo derby win over Kuching City FC at Likas Stadium on Saturday evening.
The team with the support of home fans almost threw away the two-goal lead at half time, allowing their opponents to draw level at 3-3 in the 85th minute before newly-signed import Ramon Machado netted the winner in stoppage time.
Saddil Ramdani had earlier opened the scoring in the 12th minute with his trademark freekick before Ramon extended the lead with a header at the far post to finish the move started by him in midfield.
Kuching City FC were the more aggressive side at the restart and they managed to reduce the deficit with a long range shot from Amir Amri Salleh in the 55th minute, but only for Sabah FC to reclaim the two-goal advantage three minutes later from a Stuart Wilkin strike.
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Their Liberian striker Abu Kamara who had earlier created chaos in the Sabah FC box finally found the net when he drove home his team’s second goal in the 66th minute.
He then headed in his second in the 85th minute for the equaliser before Ramon’s winning strike four minutes into injury time ended Kuching City FC’s hope of returning with a point.
“We took it too easy after leading the match and that gave our opponents the opportunity to make a comeback.
“After they scored the first goal followed by the equalisers, that put pressure on us and we were lucky to have achieved victory late in the match.
“However, it was also a very positive sign that the players are not easy to concede defeats, but to let in three goals in one match is an issue that we really need to rectify,” said Ong after the match.
He also commented on Ramon and another import Miguel Angel Garrido Cifuentes who were making their debut in the match.
“Ramon as we all can see scored two goals in the match including the winning goal and that should give him the confidence needed in our coming matches, while Cifuentes unfortunately has a minor injury and we did not want to take the unnecessary risk to play him in the second half.”
Meanwhile, the three points allowed Sabah FC to leapfrog Kedah FC into fourth place in the league with 30 points.
Their next match is against Sri Pahang FC at Likas Stadium on July 15.
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