Junior Rhinos still pointless after third loss
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah still have to search for their f irst point in the Youth Cup 2 015 a fter going down 1-2 to Kelantan at the Penampang Stadium yesterday.
It was the state j unior Rhinos third straight defeat in the national-level under19 league to leave them languishing at the wrong end of the 15 -team competition.
The finishing touch remains the squad’s Achilles heel as their i nability to convert chances created proved to be their downfall.
It was just what the visitors h ad hop e d for a s t wo l ate goals in each half ensured Kel a nt a n wou ld reg i ster a f irst win of the season.
In the 42nd minute, Mohd Danial Hakim side-footed t he ba l l home a f ter the home defence a nd Saba h goalkeeper Sakri Masri failed to deal with a cross.
The state squad were unperturbed as they worked hard to find the equaliser but lacked t he composu re at the final third, including in an one-on-one situation which Juraidi Lijas could only shoot st ra ight at goa l keeper Mohd Ridzhuan.
Sabah pushed forward later on and their positive move was rewarded when the referee awarded a penalty kick for a foul on a Sabah player inside the box on 71 minutes.
Yuseddy Yusiman struck low and hard into the bottom left corner to level the tie.
The home side continued to attack to try and f ind the winning goa l, but, instead found themselves exposed at the back.
A quick counter attack saw the lively Mohamad Ramani Nabil sneaking behind the home defence before being brought down just inside the box with two minutes to go.
Referee Zainol Abdul Aziz did not hesitate to point to the spot and captain Mohd Azwan Apirin sent Sakri the wrong way with a confidently taken penalty kick.
The defeat left the junior Rhinos without a win having lost 1-3 to Ma lacca and 0 -1 to Sarawak in their opening two games, which were played away from home.
Sabah will travel yet again in their next game where they will face Perlis at the UiTM Arau Stadium on March 1.