KUALA LUMPUR: Juan Torres Garrido’s debut as the new head coach of Sabah FC failed to spark a significant turnaround as his side had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Negeri Sembilan FC in their 2025/2026 Super League clash at Kota Kinabalu on Saturday night.
Substitute S. Kumaahran emerged as the hero for the home side, scoring in the second half to rescue ‘The Rhinos’ and prevent Negeri Sembilan from walking away with all three points from the Likas Stadium.
The visitors silenced the home crowd in the 33rd minute when Bosnian striker, Jovan Matika, found the back of the net off a swift counter-attack sparked by a brilliant through-ball from midfield by Luqman Hakim Shamsudin.
Sabah pressed for an equaliser after the break and French striker, Chris Marlon Ondong-Mba, came close in the 65th minute, but his powerful strike rattled the crossbar, leaving the ‘Skuad Jang’ (Negeri Sembilan) unscathed.
The turning point occurred in the 69th minute due to a lapse in concentration by Negeri Sembilan goalkeeper, Muhammad Azri, who had abandoned his goalmouth to protest referee Muhammad Afiq Naim’s decision to award a free kick – given after the home team player, Fergus Tierney, was fouled by his own teammate.
Croatian midfielder, Duje Ljubic, capitalised on the confusion with a quick free kick, finding Kumaahran, who spotted the empty goal and unleashed a shot from over 30 meters to level the score at 1-1.
Despite heavy protests from K. Rajan’s squad, the referee upheld the goal following a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) review.
A late attempt by Spanish defender, Jose Angel, to secure a winner for Sabah flew high over the bar and the result means Sabah’s search for their first win of the year continues since their last victory dates back to December 23, 2025, when they defeated Terengganu FC 3-1.
Meanwhile, Selangor FC’s hopes of bringing home all three points from Hang Jebat Stadium were dashed after they were held to a scoreless draw by the hosts, Melaka FC.
The blunt attacking force of the side coached by South Korean manager, Kim Pan Gon, saw them struggle to break through Melaka’s resolute defence.
The visitors’ best chance came in the 81st minute via a close-range strike from Brazilian forward, Pernambuco, but it was expertly parried away by Melaka goalkeeper, Muhammad Firdaus Irman Mohd Fadhil.
Despite being tied on 36 points, Selangor has overtaken neighbours, Kuala Lumpur City FC, to claim second spot in the standings due to a superior goal difference, while Melaka, led by coach E. Elavarasan, remain in 12th place with 11 points. – BERNAMA
