Rhinos thrash Felcra FC 3-0
Sabah have made sure that the race for the remaining promo on slot will go down to the last game a er clinching a 3-0 Premier League win over Felcra FC at the Likas Stadium last night.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah have made sure that the race for the remaining promotion slot will go down to the last game after clinching a 3-0 Premier League win over Felcra FC at the Likas Stadium last night.
Two goals from Hector Ramos and another from Maxsius Musa kept Sabah’s slim hope of Super League promotion alive while preventing Felcra from cementing their place in the elite league next season.
The Rhinos showed their intent with energetic and organised displays from the start and it was no surprise that they took the lead just 15 minutes into the match.
Maxsius was at the time and place to volley home after striker Rodoljub Paunovic’s flicked header found the right winger lurking at the far post.
There was no stopping the home team as they dominated the play with some convincing moves.
The fact that goalkeeper Rozaimie Rohim was only required to make one save for the entire half put weight to their claim.
Paunovic then nearly put his name among the scorers in the 27th minute but the Serbian footballer’s close range shot was deflected onto the side netting after a pass from Mohd Azzizan Nordin.
Sabah’s relentless attack was rewarded just before half time and Maxsius was again in the thick of action as he won the penalty kick after being felled inside the box.
Ramos made no mistake with a high finish that sent Felcra goalkeeper Mohamad Fadzley Abdul Rahim the wrong way in the 44th minute.
Sabah continued their dominance when the second half resumed and it took them only one minute to go three-up.
Ramos benefited from a strong solo run from left-sided attacker Hamran Peter when the former picked up a neat pass before shooting low to beat Fadzley.
Sabah continued to boss the game after that without really threatening the visitors’ goalkeeper but it was enough to cement a crucial win towards their targets.
The victory saw Sabah move up to fourth in the table on 28 points to trail second place Felcra by three points.
Newly crowned champions Felda United FC are on 42 points while third place Misc-Mifa are on 29 points.
The Rhinos will play away to PDRM on July while fellow promotion chasing Felcra will play at home to Sarawak and Misc-Mifa take on basement side Terengganu FC II.
Only the top two teams will be promoted to the Super League while the Malaysia Cup was reserved for the top five teams.
However, feeder clubs such as Johor Darul Takzim II, who were at fifth, are not eligible to compete in the Malaysia Cup, making sixth place PDRM on 26 points occupying the last spot for the country’s oldest cup competition.