The New Saints suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Sabah FA, with the visitors securing a 2-1 win in the European Champions League match. The decisive moments came in the first half, as J. Mickels and R. Dashdamirov scored for Sabah FA in the 28th and 42nd minutes, respectively. Despite a late consolation goal from J. Lock in the 89th minute, The New Saints were unable to mount a comeback. The result was a slight surprise, given that The New Saints were favored to win with a 40% chance, while Sabah FA had a 33% chance of victory.

The Sabah FA players, particularly those with the highest ratings, played a crucial role in their team's win, although their exact ratings were not impressive. However, their overall performance was enough to secure the three points. The New Saints' late goal was not enough to change the outcome, and they will be left to ponder what could have been if they had started the match with more urgency. Overall, Sabah FA's victory was a hard-fought one, and they will be pleased to have come away with the win.