Nafuzi rues costly defensive error in Terengganu defeat

KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu coach Nafuzi Zain rued a costly defensive error after his side fell to a 2-0 defeat to Sabah in a stormy Super League clash at Likas Stadium on Saturday.

The Turtles' task grew even harder when Malaysian international Romel Morales was sent off after a VAR review following a physical altercation with several Sabah players.

Nafuzi said heavy rain before kick-off disrupted his team's rhythm and kept them from playing their usual game, but stressed that the mistake leading to Sabah's opening goal should not have happened.

"Firstly, the heavy rain before the match somewhat disrupted our rhythm. Perhaps we couldn't play the way we usually do.

"But the mistake that allowed Sabah to score their opening goal was one we should not have made, especially when we knew the pitch conditions. In the end, we were punished and lost 2-0," said Nafuzi at the post-match press conference.

Sabah took the lead in the 19th minute after Terengganu goalkeeper Suhaimi Husin rushed off his line to deal with a long ball from Enrique Lopez but failed to reach it, allowing the ball to bounce towards the unguarded goal.

The hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later through Gonzalo Di Renzo, leaving Terengganu with an uphill battle.

Their task became even harder in the closing minutes of the first half when Morales was shown a straight red card by referee Tuan Yaasin Tuan Hanafiah following a VAR review.

Morales was involved in a physical confrontation with several Sabah players, including bringing goalkeeper Juan Flere to the ground.

The match, scheduled to kick off at 5pm, was delayed by about 30 minutes due to heavy rain in Kota Kinabalu.

The defeat leaves Terengganu ninth in the 12-team standings with five points from six matches, while Sabah move to fifth with 10 points.