Kuala lumpur: Kuala Lumpur City FC head coach Risto Vidakovic admitted the 1-1 draw against Sabah FC in their Super League match at home last night was a bitter pill to swallow after his side conceded a late equaliser despite dominating the second half.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Vidakovic said The City Boys had the upper hand after the break and created several chances to seal all three points but were punished by the visitors in the closing stages. He expressed his frustration, stating that although the result was a draw, it felt disappointing to concede a goal after controlling almost the entire second half. Vidakovic emphasized the need to accept such outcomes in football, continue working hard, and look forward to future matches.

The 55-year-old tactician, who took charge of KL City earlier this season, insisted the result did not reflect his team’s performance. He refrained from blaming any individual for the defensive lapse that led to Sabah’s equalizer in added time. He noted that fatigue and a shorter pre-season had affected his players’ sharpness. Vidakovic highlighted the importance of maintaining concentration throughout the 90 minutes and acknowledged that his team was not yet physically at their peak.

Vidakovic also urged patience from fans as the squad continues to gel, pointing out that many players joined the team late and were still adapting to his tactical approach. He identified goal-scoring as an area needing improvement but stressed the importance of being patient with the new players, citing the late start to pre-season and the influx of new team members.

In last night’s clash, Sabah, who were playing their first match of the season, were forced to play with 10 men after midfielder Dean Pelekanos received a red card for a dangerous tackle just before halftime. KL City capitalized on the numerical advantage, opening the scoring through an own goal by defender Dane Ingham in the 65th minute. However, Sabah fought back to level the score in second-half injury time with a header by substitute Gabriel Peres.

KL City, who will travel to face Penang FC on Aug 24, are now in third place with four points, level with Terengganu in second while defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim lead the standings with six points.