Brunei secured a 2-1 victory over Sabah in a Malaysia Super League match at Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday, with Brunei coach Jamie McAllister commending his team’s mentality and performance.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Ghanaian defender Ebenezer Abban. Sabah responded in the 26th minute with an equalizer by Argentine striker Gonzalo Di Renzo. However, Brunei regained the lead in the 65th minute when Australian forward Jordan Murray delivered a powerful finish past Sabah goalkeeper Damien Lim.

McAllister described the win as an “outstanding team performance,” highlighting his team’s control and quality in possession throughout the match. He praised the players for their professionalism and determination in an away game, noting that they maintained a strong mindset and gave their utmost effort.

The result puts Brunei in fifth place on the league table with six points from four matches. Sabah remain just above them in fourth place, tied on points but holding a superior goal difference.

Sabah coach Juan Torres Garrido expressed his frustration with his team’s performance, particularly in the second half. He acknowledged that while the team started well, conceding a goal they felt was avoidable shifted the momentum. He criticized his side’s mental resilience and energy levels, saying they were not strong enough to recover after falling behind and failed to mount a comeback.

The closely contested match underlined the competitive nature of the league standings, with both teams eager to climb higher in the table as the season progresses.