Rhinos suffer 1–6 home defeat to league leaders JDT

KOTA KINABALU (Feb 23): Error-prone Sabah FC slumped to a 1–6 defeat against Super League leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Likas Stadium here on Sunday.

Ajdin Mujagic, who took on his former teammates for the first time since joining JDT last month, as well as defender Osca Arribas grabbed a brace for the Southern Tigers in the game.

Bergson da Silva and Manuel Hidalgo were also on the scoresheet for JDT with French forward Chris-Marlon Ondong-Mba netting a late consolation for host Sabah.

“With a result like this, if we say we’re satisfied, we’d just be lying to ourselves,” said acting head coach Alto Linus after the game.

“Overall, there is a lot we need to improve in terms of our game. The goals we conceded were due to our own mistakes and against a team like JDT, even small errors will be punished quickly.

“This is something we must fix immediately to face the upcoming matches. Otherwise, the same mistakes will keep happening,” he added.

The Rhinos went into the game hoping to produce a positive outcome in front of home fans but to no avail.

The visitors struck as early as the eighth minute when Bergson converted a penalty with a low shot into the bottom left corner.

He had won the spot-kick after being brought down inside the box by Dane Ingham.

Mujagic then doubled JDT’s lead in the 21st minute when his deflected effort from the edge of the six-yard box looped over goalkeeper Damien Lim and into the net.

Three minutes later, an overlapping Arribas made it 3-0.

From almost an identical fashion, Arribas’ attempt took a deflection off Jose Angel Alonso Martin before ending up in the net.

There was no stopping JDT as Mujagic grabbed his second goal in the 40th minute with a rising shot past Damien to give JDT a commanding 4-0 lead going into the halftime.

The second half brought no relief for Sabah as JDT scored as soon as the action started.

Gary Steven Robbat, who had replaced Dean Pelekanos at start of the second period, slipped and lost possession and Hidalgo capitalised on it to race unchallenged towards goal before firing low pass Damien to make it 0—5.

Arribas completed the scoring just two minutes later, calmly slotting home after a neat through pass from Mujagic.

JDT continued to enjoy much of the possession without adding to their goal tally.

Instead, the Rhinos produced a moment of magic in the 87th minute when Ingham and S Kumaahran combined well to create a chance for Ondong-Mba, who powered a superb volley home to deny a JDT clean sheet.

There was still time for late drama as JDT were reduced to 10 men when defender Antonio Glauder was sent off for a dangerous tackle from behind on the lively Ondong-Mba.

Meanwhile, team manager Muhd Arziz Afizy Rumsani hoped that the Rhinos will move on from the huge defeat and focus on the next game.

“The most important match is the next one. I want to thank the more than 5,000 supporters tonight (Sunday) and hopefully we’ll get the same support in the next game.

“The coaches and players will certainly bounce back and try to improve on our league position,” he said after the game.

The defeat left Sabah languishing just above the relegation zone in 11th spot, collecting 14 points from 15 games.

The Rhinos will next face Negeri Sembilan FC at Likas Stadium on Feb 28.