Sabah’s AFC Cup adventure is over
Published on: Wednesday, February 14, 2024
By: GL Oh
Sabah FC’s Daniel Ting (right) tries to get past a Macarthur FC player during the match on Tuesday. – AFC photo
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah FC fell at the hands of Australia’s Macarthur FC in a 0-3 loss at the Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney in the AFC Cup Asean Zone semi-final on Tuesday.
Twenty-year-old Jed Drew was the toast of the home side as he scored two goals and made one assist.
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Sabah FC were definitely lacking match fitness in their first competition of the new year and they also sorely missed the service of Saddil Ramdani who was outstanding in the group stage with the six assists he had made.
The team were unable to find their usual rhythm going forward in the absence of the Indonesian international.
They were slow in their build up to attack when in possession while the hosts were simply more direct in their approach.
Despite the stuttering start, Ramon Machado almost gave Sabah FC the lead with a long range shot in the 30th minute that missed the target by a whisker after the Brazilian charged forwards from the midfield.
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Rhinos’ captain Park Taesu, who played a more defensive role in the match, was outstanding in the first half.
He made many timely tackles to break down the Macarthur FC attacks but was left helpless with the opening goal by his opposite number Ulises Alejandro Dabvila who made a great turn before drilling the ball home from close range after receiving a cutback from Jed in the 39th minute.
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Sabah FC’s chance of making a comeback in the second half was made much harder after Jed stunned them right after the restart with an individual effort after he burst through from midfield to beat Daniel Ting and Gabriel Peres before putting the ball behind Khairul Fahmi.
Jed then put the match beyond doubt with a well placed shot in the 79th minute following a through ball by Bernardo Oliveira.
The victory by Macarthur FC will see them play in the final against the winner of the other semi-final tie between Al Ahed FC of Lebanon and Iraq’s Al-Kahrabaa SC.
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