But it was the home side who drew first blood in the 40th minute when Drew cut the ball back across the goal for Macarthur skipper Davila, whose shot on the turn went in off the woodwork.

 

The first half ended with Telmo Castanheira firing wide for the Malaysians from a tight angle after he was found by right wing-back Ko Kwang-min with a cross in stoppage time.

But Sabah’s hopes of a comeback were dashed only 22 seconds into the restart, courtesy of a brilliant individual goal from Drew that doubled the A-League side’s advantage.

 

Picking up the ball in his own half, the 20-year-old sprinted down the right wing, dribbled past Ting and cut inside before wrong-footing Gabriel Peres and firing a left-foot strike past goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi. 

Sabah had the ball in the back of the net the very next minute, but Ramon’s header was ruled out for offside while Castanheira once again shot high and wide in the 75th minute in one of the few chances that fell in the way of the Malaysia Super League side in the second half.

 

Macarthur, however, remained clinical in the finishing department with Drew sealing the 3-0 win with his second of the match in the 80th minute.

 

The Bulls will face fellow Australian side Central Coast Mariners in the ASEAN Zonal final to decide who will face India's Odisha FC in the Inter-Zone semi-finals next month.