Kota Kinabalu: Ramon Machado’s Rhinos swansong ended in disappointment as Sabah FC went down 0-3 in the return leg of the FA Cup quarterfinal tie against Terengganu FC at Likas Stadium on Saturday night.
The Brazilian was on the starting list for his final match for the club, but was unable to find the net after missing several scoring chances.
It was also a night to forget for Sabah FC as any glimmer of hope to overturn the 4-0 deficit from the first leg was practically gone in the 10th minute when Safawi Rasid was given the time and space to score the opener.
Sabah FC had two opportunities to level the score soon after, but Kumaahran Sathasivam was unable to find the target with his header while Ramon headed straight into the arms of Terengganu FC’s goalkeeper Syed Muhd Nasrulhaq Syed Bidin.
Syed also did well late in the half to block a fierce shot from Jafri Chew and Daniel Ting had a header narrowly miss the target before Muhd Akyyar Abd Rashid killed the game with a breakaway goal in the 42nd minute.
Sabah FC continued to attack in the second half but again they failed to find the target through efforts by Stuart Wilkin and Ramon before Marin Pilj scored the third for the visitors with a free kick in the 86th minute.
Sabah FC head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee lamented poor finishing for the loss and admitted that Terengganu FC were more clinical up front.
“We failed to take our chances while Terengganu were able to convert theirs so easily. The two goals conceded in the first half were not what we had wanted.
“We have to blame ourselves because I believe the opportunities we created were more than Terengganu had, but they were obviously sharper in front of the goal,” he said.
Sabah FC’s next match is against leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) FC as the Super League resumes at Likas Stadium on July 13.
