Heartbreaking loss for Sabah women
Sabah women were forced to se le for second best a er losing 3-2 on penal es in the final against MISC-MIFA at the UKM Bangi field in Selangor, yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah women were forced to settle for second best after losing 3-2 on penalties in the final against MISC-MIFA at the UKM Bangi field in Selangor, yesterday.
It would have been a twelfth title for the defending champions. But as it is, Sabah women will have to wait for the 29th Tun Sharifah Rodziah Cup Inter-State Women Football Championship next year to try and add to their collection of crowns and trophies.
Based on results, both teams were equally matched and remained in deadlock until the dying seconds of the first half.
Tournament top scorer Nor Athirah Mamat, who had been influential in Sabah's victories throughout the week-long competition, netted deep into added time to announce Sabah's claim on the crown.
But Sihaya Azad spoiled the party with a 59th minute effort to stem the time.
Both teams made decent attempts at either end of the field but the score remained unchanged and match officials were forced to push the game into a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
It had been a glorious campaign for Sabah after dominating the Group A challenge and winning the semi-final against Police (also on penalties) a day earlier.
To lose it all in such fashion failed to bring justice to the effort they made to reach the final.
“It is heartbreaking to end up losing after working so hard to reach the final but our girls did very well and I am impressed with the spirit they showed throughout the competition,” said coach Smith Ampuling when contacted after the match.
“Considering that they had only a few days to train together, I would say they performed outstandingly to reach this far. I hope they remain together for next year's tournament and for other competitions in future,” he added.
Smith described the match as 50-50 and that Sabah were unlucky not to score in the chances they created in front of goal.
“We had four good chances at the goalmouth but unfortunately all the shots went wide,” he said.
As a consolation, Sabah players picked up two individual awards for their exceptional performances on the pitch.
Athirah bagged the Top Scorer award after scoring a total of 12 goals, while the Best Player award went to goalkeeper, Nurul Azurin Mazlan.
The team also achieved their objective of reaching the final. The players and officials are scheduled to return to Sabah shores late this afternoon.
For the record Sabah women lifted the cup in the last tournament in 2004.