Kota Kinabalu: Head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee has demanded his players to play with the right attitude after Sabah FC conceded a last minute goal in their 3-1 win against
Negeri Sembilan FC in the second round of the Super League tie at Likas Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors’ Hein Htee Aung scored the consolation goal in the 89th minute when substitute goalkeeper Ramzi Mustakim, who had only just come on the pitch failed to stop the shot from going through his legs at the far post.
This followed a rare mistake by Rizal Ghazai when his pass in midfield came short allowing the Negeri Sembilan FC players to make quick counter attacks.
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His first came in the 13th minute when he intercepted a poor back pass before chipping the ball over the onrushing Muhammad Firdus in goal.
The second in the 29th minute showed his goal-poaching instincts when he was the quickest to react by tapping in at the far post after Darren Kok’s initial goal-bound header was stopped by Firdus.
Miguel Cifuentes then added the third in injury time with a header from a cross by Saddil Ramdani.
“I wasn’t satisfied with the team tonight because we did not play with the right attitude that resulted in conceding the late goal.
“If we want to play in higher level competitions such as the AFC Cup and Malaysia Cup after this, we cannot afford to lose our focus like we did in the second half.
“We will get punished if the players have the same complacent attitude when we are leading the game,” said Ong after the match.
Sabah FC’s next match is the Malaysia Cup quarter-final first leg tie against Perak FC at Likas Stadium on September 15.
Ong hopes to rectify the team’s weaknesses during the two-week break.
“We have two weeks to prepare for the match and the long break will allow me to improve on their weaknesses.
“I also hope that the players upon their return after two-three days off will be more focused,” he added.
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