Saturday, January 19, 2013

QAF FC pick up first win of season



QAF FC's Muhammad Hafis Mahari (R) falls after being challenged by an LLRC FT defender (2nd R) during their DST Super League match held at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas last night.Picture: BT/Yusri Adanan
Saturday, January 19, 2013

QAF FC picked up their first win of the DST Super League season after a confidence-boosting 2-0 result against Liang Lumut Recreation Club Football Team (LLRC FT) last night.

Muhammad Hafis Mahari put QAF ahead in the 14th minute after running onto a through-ball from playmaker Mohd Hadiman Abdul Lamit, and his replacement, former DPMM FC midfielder Hardi Bujang, would make it 2-0 with a composed finish from inside the box after Petrus Jumat's raking cross-field pass sliced open LLRC's defence in the 72nd minute.

Once considered the powerhouses of local football, QAF have failed to win either of their first two games this season.

They now move up from eighth to seventh, though postponed matches against fierce rivals Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) and Wijaya FC mean they have two games in hand and a lot of time to get their campaign back on track.

Their manager, though, isn't getting carried away.

"Our game wasn't so good but we won, and that's the most important thing," noted Rahim Hj Daud after the match at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

QAF asserted themselves on the match after a frantic start by both teams, and as the game wore on, LLRC found it hard to contain Mohd Hadiman and QAF captain Riwandi Wahit in midfield.

LLRC started the second half with Ak Md Azrul Ariffin Pg Matussin hitting the left post, but lacking the killer pass that would unlock an organised QAF defence LLRC were always bound to return to Belait empty-handed.

Though they led the standings after the first two weeks after winning both of their matches, a dip in form has seen them lose all three of their subsequent games.

Admitting that the only reason they enjoyed the early season lead was because they had yet to meet the "stronger teams in the league", LLRC coach Hj Affandi Hj Julaihi seemed resigned to last night's result.

"Hard luck. We had a lot of chances but finishing was a problem," he said.

MS ABDB have the chance to dethrone Indera Sports Club from the top of the 10-team table when they take on Jerudong FC at the Balapan Track and Field, Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex tonight at 9.

The Brunei Times

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