Thursday, June 14, 2012

Rimba Star thrashed MBS United in opener FOOTBALL


Kamarul Ariffin Haji Ali (R) of Rimba Star Football Club in action during a match against Perda FC recently. Picture: BT File
Monday, June 11, 2012

MBS UNITED FC were handed a rough welcome into the world of competitive football last night when the non-league team lost 6-2 to Rimba Star FC in their Brunei FA Cup opener.

One of the 15 teams making its debut in the tournament, MBS looked second-best throughout the night hardly surprising considering they only had three practice sessions as a team.

With Rimba Star having recently qualified for the Brunei Premier League, they were always going to be favourites to progress to the next round against such a new side and one that is more known for their exploits on the futsal court than on the football field.

Though they are now out of the single knock-out format competition, MBS which stands for Mind, Body, Soul feel they have a bright future in local football.

"This team was formed recently ... Half of the players have only been playing together for one week," said team manager Ak Tuah Pg Badaruddin after the game at the Berakas Sports Complex.

The game started off brightly enough for MBS, with Md Hanis Hj Tasrip equalising a minute after Mohd Hamdi Ramlee put Rimba Star in front by connecting on a second minute corner-kick.

It was all downhill for MBS after that though, and they would fail to create any more scoring opportunities in the half.

With six Under-23 players in the starting-11, as opposed to MBS's one, Rimba Star's pace was always going to be a problem.

They were the fitter, faster and technically better side, and while they were also the more dangerous team going forward especially through right-winger Muhammad Khalil Hj Ahmad Kamil Rimba Star would only edge in front a minute before the break when Muhammad Qamarulludin Abd Rahim latched onto a long-ball and squared it to Ak Mohammad Nur Syafiq Pg Besar, who tapped home from close range.

The impressive Muhammad Khalil made it 3-1 in the 64th minute after stealing the ball in the centre of the park and running half the length of the pitch to poke it past Noor Ahmadi Mohammad Ali in goal.

It was to be the first of four Rimba Star goals in 13 minutes, effectively killing the game off.

Ak Mohammad Nur Syafiq grabbed his second two minutes later when Noor Ahmadi's goal-kick went as far as Muhammad Khalil, who turned provider this time.

Ak Muhd Nur Qhalid Pg Jamaludin's 70th minute lob over Rimba Star goalkeeper Abdul Rahim Awg Tengah made it 4-2 against the run of play but Rimba Star would restore their three-goal cushion five minutes later with a Muhd Qamarulludin strike after a through ball.

Mohd Hamdi Ramlee was the first to react to a 77th minute free-kick, making it 6-2 to Rimba Star and leaving Noor Ahmadi asking for a substitution.

The tournament resumes tomorrow with another non-league side, AKSE Bersatu, facing powerhouses Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) at the Balapan Track & Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas at 8:15pm.
 
The Brunei Times

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