Sabah drew first blood in the 10th minute, Saki Ueno floating in a cross from the left that was met by Eri Narita’s powerful header, which proved too strong for Jeane Bueno despite the custodian getting a hand to it.  

A mistake from Siti Nurfaizah, who mistimed a clearance, almost saw Sabah conceding the equaliser with Lara Ivanusa through on goal but the Slovenian forward put too much power in her shot as the ball sailed over the bar.

Ivanusa’s pace, however, proved to be too much for Sabah to handle when she again ran through in the 23rd minute and was brought down by Nurul Azurin Mazlan outside the box, forcing referee Supiree Testhomya to send the goalkeeper off.

Abu Dhabi took advantage with Rashida Ibrahim sending the subsequent free-kick into the top corner, beyond substitute keeper Asma Junaidi at the half hour mark.

Eugenia Tetteh’s jinking solo run in the 44th minute then created space for her to slot home after evading Asma’s challenge to send Abu Dhabi into the break ahead.

Despite being a player down, Sabah acquitted themselves well in the second half with Ueno’s shot in the 56th minute flashing dangerously across Abu Dhabi’s goal.

The Malaysian side continued to dominate and eventually found the equaliser in the 77th minute when Ueno’s corner kick found Intan Sarah, who proceeded to slam her shot into the bottom corner to secure Sabah a well deserved point.