Football

Brave show by 10-woman Sabah in Wuhan

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah ended their Asian Women's Champions League (AWCL) Group A campaign with a 2-2 draw against Dhabi Country Club of United Arab Emirates in Wuhan, China, yesterday.

The match saw Sabah taking the lead through Eri Narita in the 10th minute at the Hankou Cultural Sports Centre but disaster struck the Rhinos after goalkeeper Nurul Azurin Mazlan was sent off in the 26th minute for bringing down Lara Ivanusa outside the box.

Abu Dhabi took advantage with Rashida Ibrahim sending the subsequent free-kick into the top corner beyond substitute keeper Asma Junaidi at the half hour mark.

Eugenia Tetteh put Abu Dhabi into the lead in the 44th minute from an attempt inside the box, but the Malaysians continued to press and deservedly got the equaliser through Intan Sarah Anisah Zulgafli in the 77th minute.

Despite the commendable draw, Sabah ended their campaign bottom of the group with a point from three matches. They had earlier lost to Incheon Red Angels (3-0) and Wuhan Jiangda (7-0).

Sabah coach Justin Ganai said: "I'm very proud of my players who played really well with 10 players."

Sabah, the National Women's League champions, earned their ticket to the AWCL after emerging as the Group C winners in the preliminary stage in August.

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