First loss for Junior Rhinos

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah succumbed to a first President Cup defeat after going down 0-1 to Perlis at the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium in Kangar yesterday.

Muhammad Nur Arif Mistar scored the only goal of the Group A tie in the first half that the Junior Rhinos never recovered from.

Team manager Mohd Yassin Aman rued the missed chances that denied Sabah at least a point against Perlis.

The Junior Rhinos went into the game top of the table and were unbeaten in their opening three matches.

The Johnny Dominicus-coached side did everything according to plan except for finding the back of the net.

“We dominated the play and created numerous chances but could not score.

“Perlis, on the other hand, scored from the only scoring opportunity they created,” said Yassin of the match which was the fourth straight away fixture for Sabah.

For the record, Sabah won their opening three matches against Kedah 1-0, Pahang 2-1 and MISC-MIFA

Sabah will get the chance to bounce back from the narrow defeat when they play back-toback home matches next.

The Junior Rhinos first home game of the campaign will see them take on the Armed Forces (ATM) at the Likas Stadium here on March 12.

It will be followed by another home fixture against Selangor United on March 15.