Junior Rhinos eye early passage into quarterfinals

KOTA KINABALU: The Junior Rhinos are determined to return with the maximum points in their next two matches as they eye an early passage into the President Cup quarterfinals.

The state under-21 squad will play consecutive away fixtures where they will first take on basement side the Armed Forces (ATM) at the MINDEF Mini Stadium in Kuala Lumpur today.

Sabah will then face third-from-bottom Selangor United the Sungai Besar Mini Stadium in Sabak Bernam on May 7.

“We will try our best to win both of our away fixtures. If we can do that, our chances of making the last eight will be greater,” said team manager Mohd Yassin Aman yesterday.

Sabah are currently second in the 11-team Group levelled on 31 points with Kedah, who lead by virtue of superior goals difference.

Third-placed Johor Darul Takzim III (JDT III) are third on 25 points but with a game in hand over Kedah, Sabah and fourth placed Pahang (23 points).

And with only six matches left to play, the Junior Rhinos could virtually seal their place in the top four of Group A with victories in their next two games, thus advancing into the quarterfinals.

Having said that, Yassin cautioned the players of being overconfident especially when facing the teams languishing in the bottom three of the group.

“We must not underestimate our opponents in the next two round of matches just because they are in the bottom half of the table.

“We have met them in the first round and they gave us tough times. We have to be at our best if we want to win both matches,” he added.

For the record, Sabah registered 1-0 wins over ATM and Selangor United FC in their first round meetings.

Striker Arius Dius Jais’s penalty kick won Sabah against ATM while a solitary strike from defender Evan Wensley Wenceslaus downed Selangor United FC.

Meanwhile, Yassin revealed Sabah will be fielding the same squad that took on Perlis last week which ended 1-1.

Evan, who was red-carded against Perlis, is included in the travelling squad but will miss the game against ATM.

“He could feature for us against Selangor United FC,” said Yassin, who then added that Mohd Syahmil Nizam Igbal Khan will start in Evan’s absence. The other Group A fixtures for today will see Malacca to face Perlis, Kedah against JDT III, Kelantan taking on Pahang and Selangor to host MISC MIFA.

All the matches will start at 4:45pm.