ABDB Bag Third DST FA Cup

Tuesday, 11 December 2012 08:31 

 

Jake Ten

Awang Idris Vasi with the 2012 DST FA Cup champions, MS ABDB.

Bandar Seri Begawan - MS ABDB captured a third DST FA Cup title in four seasons after Cpl (U) Mohammad Hardi bin Hj Matassan's netted the winner deep into extra time at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night.

Indera SC were making their first FA Cup final appearance ever, and started off brightly, but failed to capitalise on any of their chances in the first half

Coming out of the break, MS ABDB seized control of the game, and had two headers cleared off the line by Indera SC defenders.

Team manager Major Suhaimi had said prior to the match that the most patient team would win, but he did not foresee that extra time would be required after a goalless 90 minutes.

But who could blame him, after watching his side scupper multiple chances having laid siege to the Indera SC goalmouth for most of the second half.

Indera SC had chances to capture the win too, with Muhd Nur Ikwan bin Othman and substitute Mohammad Arif bin Hj Zulkifli both spurning one-on-one chances with Pvt Muhamad Suhandi.

MS ABDB's persistence paid off after 115 minutes of play, with substitutes Pvt Budiman bin Jumat and Cpl (U) Mohammad Hardi bin Hj Matassan combining for the winner.

A swift counter-attacking move saw the Indera SC rearguard caught out of position, and Pvt Budiman seized possession just outside the box, sending in a cross from the left with three targets in the box to aim for, it was inevitable that one of MS ABDB's attackers would get a touch, and Cpl (U) Mohammad Hardi bin Hj Matassan did exactly that, rising highest to nod the ball home from six yards out.

MS ABDB head coach, Sargeant Saiful Rizal bin Awang, was relieved after the win, which was deserved to say the least considering the fact that they were the team that made the most of their chances, albeit just once.

"It was 50-50, but whoever scored first was going to win it," opined Sargeant Saiful Rizal, who was convinced that both the efforts that were cleared off the line should have stood as goals.
"Both goals crossed the line. I think in finals like this, you need extra linesman so they can make those decisions," he added.

The head coach was relieved his side scored before the death, which spared them from a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

"We didn't want penalties. We had lots of chances, but we didn't score. Congratulations to the players of MS ABDB, and to Indera SC for a great match."

Meanwhile, Indera SC handler, Ishak Hj Kabon, who was brought in specifically for the DST FA Cup, was understandably gutted after the loss, but was humble in the eyes of defeat.

"We had good chances, but we were unlucky. If you have chances and you can't make it, then you won't win," reasoned Ishak.

"For MS ABDB, training is their job, whereas we only train once a week, so I'm very proud because they (the players) brought it to extra time."

The guest-of-honour, Chief Executive Officer of DST, Awang Idris Vasi, presented the prizes to the winners. Also pre-sent was Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman, President of the NFABD, and members of the NFABD Secretariat.
--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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