Rhinos escape with draw in Garrido’s debut

KOTA KINABALU (March 2): Head coach Juan Torres Garrido’s first game in charge of Sabah FC ended in a 1-1 draw against Negeri Sembilan FC at the Likas Stadium on Saturday.

Garrido, who was only unveiled as coach three days earlier, has had little time to stamp his authority on the Rhinos but the positive signs were there.

The Rhinos dominated and created enough scoring chances but a win eluded them. In fact, Sabah fell behind in the 33rd minute when Joven Motika finished with aplomb after a swift counterattack, firing low past three Sabah defenders and goalkeeper Damien Lim to silence the home crowd.

Unperturbed, Sabah fought back with Chris Marlon Ondong-Mba striking the crossbar while a Dane Ingham-trademark dipping, cross-cum-shot was clawed out to safety by the alert Negeri Sembilan custodian Muhd Azri Abdul Ghani.

However, Azri who is also Negeri Sembilan captain, was partly to blame for abandoning his area to approach the referee to protest a foul against his teammates in the 69th minute. Quick thinking by newly signed Croatian midfielder Duje Ljubic to release the ball early to second half substitute S Kumaahran proved vital. The latter shot into the empty net from 30m out to level the score.

The stalemate means the Rhinos have now gone four consecutive league matches without a win. Their last was the 3-1 away victory against Terengganu FC in December 23 which also underlined the work still ahead for Garrido and his men.

“After drawing, I cannot say I’m happy but overall the team performed the way we trained in a short time.

“I saw the players’ willingness to play for the fans supporting the team, I think we can be satisfied overall with this start and just look forward and start preparing for the next game,” Garrido said after the game.

He believes things will become easier once the players adapt to new ideas and tactical changes. With Saturday’s outcome, the Rhinos moved to 10th on the league table on 15 points, having registered three wins, six draws and seven losses in 16 games played. Negeri Sembilan are just three points above in seventh place, having played one game.

Sabah’s next league game will see them take on fourth placed Kuching City FC in a Borneo derby in Kuching on March 7.
Prior to that, the Rhinos will face Perak FC in the first leg of the MFL Challenge Cup semifinal at MP Manjung Stadium on March 4.

“We need to first study Kuching,” Garrido said in response to a question on Sabah’s next league game.

“They have been playing well and also they are playing at home…for sure it is going to be tough because just three days earlier we will have another game (against Perak FC).

“We need to work on our plan for that game and I’m sure if we keep playing like this, for sure it will not be easy for them.

“It will be an extra motivation for us in this game,” he added to conclude the press conference.