FA Cup: Sabah Come From Behind To Hold Selangor To A 2-2 Draw In Likas

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Sabah FC staged a late fightback to hold Selangor FC to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the 2026-2027 FA Cup round of 16 at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu tonight, keeping the race for a quarter-final spot wide open.

The home team opened the scoring in the 32nd minute through defender Dane James Ingham, but that advantage lasted only three minutes before striker Kay Sheku Tejan equalised for Selangor.

Selangor came out of the dressing room more aggressively and took the lead in the 50th minute through a shot by team captain Chrigor Moraes that Sabah goalkeeper Juan Flere failed to save.

However, Sabah, coached by Juan Torres Garrido, refused to surrender as midfielder Abdul Halim Saari netted the equaliser in the 58th minute.

Both teams continued to hunt for the winning goal, but the 2-2 scoreline remained until the final whistle, forcing the outcome to be decided during the return leg at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium on Sept 9.

At the Hang Jebat Stadium in Krubong, Melaka FC failed to make the most of their home advantage as they had to accept a 0-1 defeat to Penang FC.

The visitors' sole goal came in the 23rd minute through Faith Friday Obilor, keeping the 1-0 scoreline intact until the end of the match before Melaka was awarded a penalty kick in stoppage time of the second half.

Melaka squandered the chance after Kpah Sherman’s penalty kick was successfully saved by Khairul Azhan Khalid, thus securing the victory for Penang.

Meanwhile, Liga A1 Semi-Pro side Kelantan City FC will take a comfortable two-goal advantage into the return leg after securing a 2-0 upset win against Negeri Sembilan FC at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Bharu.

Ahmad Nazri Muhamad opened the scoring with a header in the seventh minute before substitute striker Emmanuel Ikechukwu sealed the home team's victory in the 84th minute.

Meanwhile, another Liga A1 Semi-Pro team, Kedah, fought back to hold Star City to a 2-2 draw in another clash at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar.

The home team, guided by Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, took the lead through an Anthony Arthur penalty kick in the 42nd minute after he was brought down inside the penalty box.

Star City rallied to equalise through Douglas Felisbino De Oliveira in the 78th minute before Pedro Henrique Oliveira Da Silva put the visitors ahead in the 87th minute.

However, Kedah managed to avoid a defeat in front of their home supporters when Muhammad Zhafir Mohd Yusoff netted the equaliser in the 90th minute.

-- BERNAMA