SABAH FA’s women team failed to progress to the next round of the AFC women’s Champions League after losing to East Bengal FC in their final Preliminary Group A tie at Likas Stadium last week.
Despite the loss, it’s crucial to acknowledge the efforts of the Sabah FA players, who fought valiantly throughout the game.
It is worth noting that some import players only joined Sabah FA earlier this month, leaving the team little time to gel.
Watching from the stands, I thought the team’s performance was commendable, but a lack of finishing prevented them from converting chances into goals. While East Bengal FC had clearly studied Sabah’s tactics thoroughly, the defensive strength of both sides left each struggling to break the other down.
The match was a fiercely contested affair. The solid wall of defence put forth by Sabah FA played a pivotal role in keeping the match competitive, and I thought the left and right backs had an excellent game.
I was quite impressed by the super duper fitness of the East Bengal FC players and their defensive play.
Enzi Hekima Starks was the standout player in Sabah FA’s attacks, but she was constantly marked out by multiple players due to lack of support from her teammates.
The second half saw a more aggressive approach from the visitors. A turning point occurred in the 64th minute when Sabah FA’s captain Steffi Kaur had to leave the pitch to change her boots.
Her temporary absence opened up an opportunity for East Bengal FC, who scored the opening goal in the 67th minute.
It demonstrated how critical every player is in a tight match. Sabah FA’s defence fell into disarray without Steffi, and surprisingly, there seemed to be no instructions from the bench to cover the gap.
I also want to question the decision to sub out the wing-backs. They were having a great game and keeping the defence tight, even if they were tiring. What we really needed then was to boost the attack and give Enzi more support up front.
Ultimately, it was an entertaining match for the fans. While the result was disappointing for Sabah FA, the team should be proud of their overall performance in the tournament and strive to build on it for future matches.
