Sabah FC 2-0 Terengganu FC: both goals inside the first half-hour at Likas Stadium

Sabah FC beat Terengganu FC 2-0 at Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu on 31 October, scoring twice in the first half of Matchday 6 of the Malaysia Super League.

How the goals came

Terengganu FC’s own match review describes rain falling throughout and a heavy pitch that made it hard for either side to settle. Head coach Nafuzi Zain started only three import players, with Manuel Ott and Victor Ruiz missing through injury, the club said. The visitors had the first chance, when Mateus ran at the defence and his shot hit the post.

The hosts went ahead in the 20th minute with a long-range shot that beat goalkeeper Suhaimi Husin, and added a second a few minutes later. Terengganu FC then lost Romel Morales to a red card before half-time and played the rest of the match with ten men.

Habib Haroon replaced Mateus at the start of the second half. By the club’s account, the visitors kept looking for a goal, but the Sabah FC defence held its shape and the score stayed 2-0.

The table

The win lifts Sabah FC to 10 points from six matches. They are fifth in the Malaysia Super League table, eight points behind the leaders, with two wins, a draw and two defeats in their last five league games.

Terengganu FC stay ninth on five points, with four goals scored and nine conceded. They have not won in their last five league matches, drawing two and losing three.

Terengganu FC host DPMM FC at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium, Kuala Nerus on 20 November, kicking off at 9pm. Sabah FC visit Kelantan Red Warrior FC on 21 November, also at 9pm.