Imigresen extends Rhinos winless streak to six

KOTA KINABALU (March 16): Sabah FC poor run of form in the Super League continued as Imigresen FC scored two late goals to snatch a 2-1 win at the Likas Stadium on Saturday.

The defeat extended the Rhinos’ winless run to six league matches, which includes two draws and four losses.

Sabah last tasted a league win back on December 23 last year, claiming a 3-1 win away to Terengganu FC.

“We feel disappointed of course…we had expected better result in the game,” said a dejected head coach Juan Torres Garrido.

The Rhinos, fresh from progressing to the MFL Challenge Cup final just three days earlier, looked set to end their dismal league run when Darren Lok finished confidently in the 30th minute. The Malaysian international forward was unmarked inside the box when he received a neat pass from S. Kumaahran to fire home calmly from close range.

Sabah created several promising opportunities after taking the lead but their inability to convert those chances would prove costly later in the match.

Imigresen FC drew level in the 74th minute when Wilmar Jordan Gil confidently converted a penalty past goalkeeper Damien Lim.

The spot kick was awarded after a VAR review spotted a handball by Chris Marlon Ondong Mba, who inadvertently handled the ball inside the box while attempting to clear it.

The visitors then stunned the home crowd in the 83rd minute. Fayadh Zulkifli broke free from his marker to latch onto a long pass to slip the ball past the advancing Damien.

Sabah thought they had found a late equaliser in the 88th minute when midfielder Dean Pelekanos scored from a cleverly struck free kick.

However, the celebration was short-lived as referee Mohd Hasrol Mohd Amir ruled the gaol invalid after a VAR review revealed a Sabah player had strayed offside before the free kick was taken.

The Rhinos pushed forward relentlessly during the nine minutes of stoppage time but Imigresen held firm to secure all three points and strengthen their position in seventh place in the league standings.

Garrido made his feelings clear concerning the decisions that went against his team.

“There’s some factors that we can work and improve during the week and fix the team but there’s some factor that we cannot control like what happened last night (Saturday).

“Some decisions were not good for us and I’ll leave the judgement to the referees, committee and the authority so hopefully this element which we can’t control can be more even in the future and I hope we will be luckier and better result from element that we can’t control,” he said.

The Rhinos remained in 10th spot out of 13 teams, collecting 15 points from 18 games (three wins, six draws, nine losses).

“It was very frustrating for us and also for the supporters because how it happened.

“Because of the situation we can’t control, mentally it took us out of the game but this is football and we need to focus on the next game, which is a final,” Garrido remarked.

“We have better situation for training after the break and I’m sure we will offer better performance.

“I also hope we will have the support the fans again because we need them to be stronger and to become better team now until the end of the season,” the coach added.

Sabah will take on Penang FC in the first leg of the MFL Challenge Cup final at the Bandaraya Stadium in George Town on April 4.