UiTM FC vs Sabah: An Insight

Since the Man City-Arsenal game was over so early, I turned on the UITM FC vs Sabah FA Super League game, which I felt would be an interesting one.

Game Preview:

Home team, UITM FC is sitting bottom of the league with 6 points coming into the game with Sabah in 6th with 19 points. However, despite the difference in standings, both teams are still relegation candidates. UITM FC is still mathematically not relegated yet. If they win all of their remaining games, and all the other teams lose, they could still be safe, theoretically. (Winning all their remaining games would give them a points total of 18 points, which would make them level on points with Melaka Utd and PJ City). And Sabah could easily drop into the relegation dogfight if results don’t go their way! Looking at their recent form, Sabah hasn’t won in their last 5 games (LLDDD) while you could say that UiTM FC may just be seeing an upturn with a 2-game unbeaten streak; W v Perak, D v Melaka.

How I think UiTM can possibly secure a result here: Sabah, in their game v Penang always looked to play out of the back and sometimes that lead to problems. A high press from UITM FC could force the Sabah defenders into mistakes at the back for transition opportunities!

15’ UITM FC 1-0 Sabah FA

UITM FC starts out the game with a high block, but has slowly settled into a low block after the first 10 minutes. Sabah has come out playing their usual control possession style of football. And had dominated proceedings. Until the 15th minute. A great pass to unlock a devastating counterattack by UITM and Kwon has won his team a penalty after a shot that hit the woodwork.

Kwon himself stepped up to take the penalty and calmly sends the keeper the wrong way to slot it into the bottom right corner. If UITM can defend well now, they keep their survival hopes in Malaysia Super League alive.

18’ UITM FC 2-0 Sabah FC.

After 3 minutes after scoring their first goal, UITM FC has pounced again. A ball flicked on should’ve been easily dealt with by Sabah captain, Risto. However, he gets outpaced by Vinicius (not Jr.) who initially tries to put in a cross from the left wing. A bad clearance by Sabah’s Rowilson returned the ball to Joel Vinicius who converts on the 2nd attempt after his first shot was blocked.

First half drinks break thoughts:

Sabah has dominated proceedings so far, having most of the ball, but similar problems plague them as in the Penang game - crosses into the box are not connecting with their attacking players. UITM meanwhile has capitalized on their few chances so far to score 2 goals. and have looked pretty good with their few chances going forward.

#UITMSAB Half Time Score: UITM FC 2-0 Sabah FC.

In a pretty uneven game so far, UITM has gone against the flow to score twice against possession-dominant Sabah FC. Once again, proving that a direct, defensive solid style of football maybe the way to succeed in MSL.

Despite having more passes in the opponent half and more penalty box touches, Sabah has struggled to create clear cut chances for their strikers to score. And when they did, their players have been wasteful in front of goal.

Oppositely, UITM has been clinical when they've gone forward with the few chances they have had and their efforts at the back deserves applause. Timely clearances and crucial blocks and tackles in the penalty box has kept a clean sheet for the lowest ranked team in MSL so far.

In my honest opinion, this is a very interesting matchup between 2 teams of contrasting styles. A possession dominant Sabah team who constantly attacks through the middle to create space for crosses from the wings vs a defensively resilient UiTM FC who patiently waits for a counterattacking chance.

UITM has settled into a low block and seems to be taunting Sabah to attack. When Sabah makes a mistake, they pounce like a lion. #punintended UITM's one touch play in the opponent half has also been good and been working well for them in terms of drawing fouls to create chances, which I think must be the main aim of the offense since they have such big and physical players in the team.

Sabah, contrastingly, has been unimpressive and too predictable in offense, counting on their wingers too much to create the offense. Their crosses into the box have largely been met by UITM's defenders and someone else needs to inspire moments of magic in their team. Alto Linus have been particularly underwhelming today as most of his crosses from the left side have been blocked by UiTM defenders easily.

Interesting to see how the game will proceed!

Onto the second half! #UITMSAB

Second half:

Amri Yahya is gifted with a big chance to start the second half and he's missed it wide left of the post! After Ivancic brought down a really nice pass into the penalty box, he had 2 shots brilliantly saved by Sabah keeper, Zamir (who has been outstanding this whole game!). Coming out to claim the loose ball, Zamir left the goal wide open. Ivancic managed to toe-poke the ball over to the wily 40-year old making a late run into the penalty box, who unfortunately puts it wide! The subbing in of Amri Yahya into the game has injected some life and flair into Sabah’s game. If something's going to happen, I reckon it'll be him heavily involved in it.

59’ UITM FC 3-0 Sabah FC.

UITM is up 3-0. The second half of the game seems to be the same story as the first half for Sabah. Another mistake by Sabah at the back. After winning a throw in, miscommunication between Sabah’s defenders allow Sean Giannelli to recover the ball high up the pitch, dribble it uncontested into the penalty area and finish calmly 1v1 with a placed shot into the far bottom left corner.

66’ UITM FC 4-0 Sabah FC.

UITM is up 4-0 now as it gets even more embarrassing for Sabah. It's like Man City vs Arsenal all over again! You can even sense that the UiTM players’ confidence has gone way up as Sabah players can't seem to lift their heads to get out of this rut.

Sean Giannelli pops up again to score his second of the evening. After a good decoy run by Joel Vinicius to pull Sabah CB away from the middle, Sean Giannelli sprints into the BIG OPEN space in the middle and Buschening is able to pick him out with a spectacular through ball. 1v1 against the keeper again, nothing changes as Sean picks out the bottom right corner this time with another ‘cool as a cucumber’ finish.

Second half Drinks Break thoughts:

This is getting ridiculous now. UITM continues to pile on the misery for Sabah as more mistakes by the away team allows 2 more goals past their shaky back four.

#UITMSAB Full Time Score: UITM FC 4-0 Sabah FC.

UITM successfully keeps their survival bid alive, collecting an impressive 7 out of 9 total points in their last 3 games. Sabah will be left wondering how they've conceded 4 goals here today as they regroup for the next game.

The second half of this game did not provide any surprises or comebacks as Sabah continued their wasteful night in front of goal, with only 5 shots on target out of their 24 total attempted shots.

UITM seemed content to pack the penalty box and let them shoot from range, even daring them to do so at times and Sabah couldn't respond. The best chance of the game for Sabah came to Amri Yahya just as the second half started but lady luck was clearly not on their side tonight.

UITM looked defensively solid and their lineup of tall, physical, relentless players gave the Sabah defense a torrid time. Vinicius and Kwon was outstanding today, constantly challenging for aerial duels and coming down with the ball.