Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Inexperience proves costly for MSSSBD FOOTBALL/Brunei Games


Muhammad Fakhrul Tamimi Hj Sahari (front row 2nd R) scored a brace for Brunei-Muara during last night's Brunei Games match against Brunei Darussalam Schools' Sports Council. Picture: BT/Jason Thomas
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

SUBSTITUTE goalkeeper Abdul Hafiz Abdul Rahim cost Brunei Darussalam Schools' Sports Council (MSSSBD) dearly last night, the shotstopper's suspect play during two free-kicks seeing them lose 3-2 to Brunei-Muara in a dramatic Brunei Games tie which saw all the goals scored in the second half.

Playing in his first competitive match when he was forced to come in the 51st minute for an injured Ahmad Zawawi Pengarah Hj Ibrahim, the first thing the 16-year-old did was pluck the ball out of his own net when Muhammad Fakhrul Tamimi Hj Sahari scored with a glancing header after a free-kick at the Balapan Track & Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

MSSSBD who were formed in March with the view of competing in next month's Under-18 Asian Schools Football Tournament in Iran replied in the 58th minute when the impressive Mohamed Zulkhairy Hady Razali stormed down the right flank and squared the ball to Muhammad Shafie Hj Mohd Efenddy, who scored with a simple tap-in on the far post.

MSSSBD got in front in the 74th minute when Ak Mohd Asri Pg Azahari scored a freak of a free-kick, his low effort from outside the box on the left somehow finding its way past the sea of players inside the box and nestling in the bottom right corner.

They seemed certain to take the tie but the scores were leveled five minutes later when Md Fakhri Ismail pounced on a poor clearance by Muhd Faiz Farhan Kamat and hit a low shot past Abdul Hafiz's left.

Though Abdul Hafiz was not at fault for the equaliser, it was his blunder which led to Brunei-Muara's winner, Muhammad Fakhrul Tamimi once again popping up inside the box with a 89th minute header off a free-kick.

Abdul Hafiz grasped the ball but it would slip in under him, with Muhammad Fakhrul Tamimi reeling off in celebration and Liew Chuan Fue covering his head with his hands.

"This was the first time he has played in such a big tournament," said the MSSSBD coach.

"Actually our game was good, it's just that the majority of the team is made up of young players.

"Three are 18, one is 17, and the rest are either 16 or 15, so the experience is not there," said the former national captain, who admitted a semi-final berth is now out of the question after losing their first game 2-1 to titleholders Royal Brunei Police Force Sports Council (MS PBD).

Brunei-Muara, who beat Institutes of Higher Learning (Institut Pengajian Tinggi/ IPT) 2-1 in their opener on Sunday, are now looking like favourites to progress to the semi-finals along with MS PBD from Group B.

MS PBD blasted past IPT 7-0 in last night's other match at the Berakas Sports Complex.

The Royal Brunei Armed Forces' Sports Council (MS ABDB) face Belait in today's game at the Balapan Track & Field while Tutong take on Temburong at the Berakas Sports Complex, both Group A games set for 8pm.

The Brunei Times

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