By Lester J. Bingkasan
Sabah in come-from-behind win over Perak
KOTA KINABALU: A Jeniun Karib-inspired Sabah under-19 squad fought back to register a 2-1 win over Perak in the Youth Cup Group A challenge yesterday.
Central defender Jeniun scored the winning goal for the second straight game after he had provided the assist for Mohd Aidil Safee equaliser midway into the second half.
In fact Sabah could have secured a much more comfortable lead but for Stanley Sulong’s missed penalty in the first half, which was Sabah’s third in seven matches.
It nearly cost Sabah the game as Ahmad Syahmi Ahmad Bakhtiar had put Perak in front with another spot kick late in the opening period.
Team manager Mohd Yassin Aman was a relieved man after the final whistle before describing the three points as ‘very important’.
“We nearly paid for missing the penalty kick in the first half but credit to the boys who fought back despite going a goal down.
“The victory was very important because it enabled us to retain our second placing in the group...a defeat would have seen us drop a few rungs in the table.
“That’s why I’m very happy with the three points and now we can concentrate on the next fixture,” he said when met after the game.
Sabah went into the game needing a win to keep pace with leaders Kedah and the first chance came after a penalty kick was awarded in the 17th minute.
However, Stanley’s weak attempt was easily gathered by goalkeeper Muhd Syakir Danial Ma’amal Hajri.
And Sabah were soon made to pay for the miss when referee Mohd Syukri Haron pointed to the spot for a foul on Ahmad Syahmi by Sabah custodian Izan Rifaa Sasari on 39 minutes.
Ahmad Syahmi had no problem sending Izan the wrong way to put Perak 1-0 going into the breather.
The Jelius Ating-coached Sabah emerged with greater urgency in the second half but without much success in converting the chances early on.
The equaliser arrived on 61st minute when Aidil acrobatically met Jeniun’s free kick to direct the ball into the back of the net off the goalpost.
Sabah’s fightback was complete when Jeniun expertly curled the ball around the five-man wall and past the hapless Muhd Syakir off a free kick just outside the box in the 73rd minute.
The victory was Sabah’s fifth in seven matches where they remained second in the 10-team group on 15 points.
Sabah will be away to basement side Perlis on Wednesday.