Sabah juniors miss q-final spot
Sabah under-19 squad le the Likas Stadium here in somber mood yesterday a er failing to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup challenge.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah under-19 squad left the Likas Stadium here in somber mood yesterday after failing to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup challenge.
The state juniors managed only a 0-0 outcome in their last game of the season against Felda United FC here yesterday, a game which saw both teams reduced to nine men.
And with Perak winning 21 against Perlis in the other Group B fixture, it all but ended Sabah’s hopes of making it into the knock-out rounds.
Sabah concluded their campaign in the nine-team Group B on 24 points from six wins, six draws and four losses to settle for fifth placing.
Victory for Perak saw them move into third spot on 26 points and qualify along with group winners Felda (27 points), second placing Kuala Lumpur (27 points) and fourth placing Selangor (26 points).
Team manager Mohd Yassin Aman was a mirror of disappointment at the end of the game after the squad just missed out on qualification.
Yassin admitted Sabah’s failure to get the all important two points in their last two games of the campaign proved to be their downfall.
In fact, Yassin said the state juniors who only managed five points from a possible 12 points in the last four games (one win, two draws and one defeat) proved to be their downfall.
“We were in a good position to advance prior to the long break but we did not get enough points (after the league resumed) to secure our quarter-final berth.
“We are very disappointed but this is football,” he said when met after their last game of the season.
Commenting on the game against Felda, Yassin said the team lacked a quality striker to really trouble the visitors.
“We did not play to our strength in the first half but we came in a better side in the second half.
“However, we failed to find the back of the net and in football, if you don’t score you are not going to win matches,” said Yassin who however praised the players’ fighting spirit to get the winner.
In the match, both teams were evenly matched but Felda had the better scoring chances.
Sabah goalkeeper Mohamad Ramzi Mustakim made a point blank save from Mohamad Hakimi Nuwawi’s effort in the 40th minute while Mohd Akhmar Haiqal Azhar squandered two late chances.
Mohd Asri Rustam had Sabah best chance when his lobbed effort landed on the roof of the goal with Felda’s goalkeeper Muhammad Azri Abdul Ghani off-position.
Asri and Mohd Shah Mizie Abdul Rahim for Sabah and Felda’s Azri as well as Muhammad Zahril Azri Zabri were sent off late in the game for rough play.