Mohd Aqmal comes to Indera's rescue

Indera SC's Mohammad Aqmal Hakeem Abdul Hamid (R) evading a tackle from QAF FC's Micky Anak Gindi during yesterday's DST Super League match at the Balapan Track and Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas. Picture: BT/Md Asdeny Yakub

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, December 17, 2012

MOHAMMAD Aqmal Hakeem Abdul Hamid scored in the 94th minute to help Indera Sports Club salvage a 2-2 draw with QAF FC in yesterday afternoon's DST Super League game. The real action came later in the day though, when Liang Lumut Recreation Club Football Team (LLRC FT) beat Najip FC 7-5 to move to the top of the table in the night match.

Both games were played at the Balapan Track and Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

Kilanas FC and Wijaya FC face off in the last of the opening week action tonight, and unless they can produce a bigger goal-fest, LLRC FT will enter the second week at the summit of the 10-team table.

Traditionally one of the strongest teams in Brunei football, QAF FC looked to be cruising to their first win of the tournament when Petrus Jumat and Adie Arsham Muhammad Salleh found the net in the 25th and 78th minutes respectively until Mohammad Aqmal Hakeem forced an equaliser after defeating QAF FCs goalkeeper Junaidi Akim with a superb strike just outside the penalty box.

Indera got off to a strong start by opening the scoring early in the 11th minute when Mohammad Khayrun Salleh netted from inside the penalty box after latching onto a great pass from Mohd Nur Ikhwan Othman.

But QAF FC replied 14 minutes later when Petrus beat the offside trap before blasting the ball past Indera's goalkeeper Mohd Norul Zulhilmi Mustapa.

The second half saw QAF FC come out in determined fashion, and they got ahead when Adie Arsham scored on the counter attack after sending Mohd Norul Zulhilmi the wrong direction with a scuffed shot.?

Junaidi would pull off a fantastic save from Reduan Hj Petara in the 82nd minute after the defender's header from inside the box looked goal-bound after a corner-kick.

Indera went all-out in search of the equaliser but QAF FC, playing in a 4-5-1 formation, were able to keep a tight hold of midfield to deny them an opportunity up until injury time.

QAF FC were made to pay when they were unable to clear a cross which fell to the unmarked Mohammad Aqmal Hakeem, who was given plenty of space to fire a shot. Indera's coach, though, felt they should have wrapped up the game earlier.

"We could have won the game by four to five goals," claimed Indera SC coach Ishak Hj Kabon.

"We had a lot of chances in the game and the players just could not finish.

"Credit to QAF FC too, they defended very well today (and) their goalkeeper pulled off a couple of good saves.

"If we played throughout the game the way we played in the final 10 minutes, we could have condemned QAF FC and finished the game early."

"We need to work on this problem and change our attitude in the game," he added.

The Brunei Times