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SABAH FC only managed to draw with Terengganu FC 1-1 in the home match played at Likas Stadium on Sunday.

Parading new signing Joao Pedro and with the return of Saddil Ramdani, Gabriel Perez and Darren Lok in the starting line-up, Sabah FC were a much improved side as compared to their performance in  previous games.

After a five-week break, Sabah FC as expected looked a little rusty but I thought the players played quite well enough despite the lack of any competitive matches before the tie. 

We couldn’t have asked for a better start against a team who beat us twice in the FA Cup quarter-final back in July when Park Tae Su latched on to a huge clearance from custodian Damien Lim, before crossing in a beautiful pass for debutant Joao who made a dashing run to slot in just a metre away from goal in the 10th minute.

Both sides had their fair chances to score earlier before the opening goal, but they all went to waste with poor finishing.

We were on top after taking the lead and had Terengganu FC on the back foot until a lapse of concentration during the first half added time allowed Terengganu FC to draw level.

Ismaheel Akinade was left unmarked just outside the box when he shot past Damien despite Dominic Tan’s desperate attempt to use his body to block the ball.

It was end to end tussle in the second half with both sides trying their level best to score the winner until the referee blew the final whistle.

The draw may not be the result that most fans had wanted, but to gain one point from the match with many players who had just come back from injuries after a long period was still a morale booster for the team.

It was a vital result to regain the players’ confidence following the home loss to Selangor in August  before the team take on PDRM in an away match this Saturday (September 21).

Here is hoping that Stuart Wilkin will be back in the starting line-up soon. The team should be more formidable now with the return of the senior players.

We are sitting in fourth place at the moment, only two points behind Terengganu FC and eight points adrift of Selangor FC in second place who played one match more.

It is still early in the season so we must take the opportunities to capitalise on weaker teams and get as many points as we can to climb up the table.