MS ABDB Maintain Top Position

Thursday, 14 February 2013 07:33

Jake Ten

A QAF player battles for the ball with a MS ABDB player last night. - KHAIRIL HASSAN

Bandar Seri Begawan - Ten-man MS ABDB beat QAF FC 3-1 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night to maintain their position atop of the DST Super League standings.

Pvt Md Baharin bin Hamidon took an early bath after he denied QAF PC a clear goal-scoring opportunity by handling the ball inside the 18-yard box.

Mardi Mirza bin Abdullah Bujang stepped up to take the spot-kick and converted with ease in the 8th minute to set QAF FC on their way to what should have been a straightforward victory.

However, it is the mark of true champions to emerge from the jaws from defeat with a triumph, and Pvt Mohammad Khairul Mee bin Mail drew MS ABDB level with a header in the 21st minute.

QAF FC had several chances to regain control of the game, and had it not been for MS ABDB's goalkeeper, Pvt Mohammad Tarmizi bin Hj Mat Johari, they would have been well out of reach before half-time.

The MS ABDB shot-stopper first denied Adie Arsham bin Md Salleh, keeping out the striker's close-range header, before acrobatically saving Micky Anak Gindi's pile driver from just outside the box.

It is goals that win you games, not possession or shots on target, and MS ABDB made the most of the few opportunities that they had.

Pvt (U) Mohammad Isa bin Hj Bahar turned the game on ahead against the run of play three minutes before the break. Along ball forward was controlled well by the MS ABDB attacker, who shouldered off his marker, before turning and unleashing a powerful drive which went straight through Junaidi bin Akim in the QAF FC goal.

QAF FC threw more men into attack in the second half, pushing further up the pitch, and with MS ABDB providing an answer to every question their opponents had, they struck again on the counter.

A poor cross-field ball from Micky Anak Gindi was intercepted, and with QAF FC on the back foot, MS ABDB made use of their numerical advantage in attack, stringing a few passes together, with Pvt (U) Mohammad Isa bin Hj Bahar finishing off the move from close range on the hour mark.

The win took MS ABDB onto 19 points, putting them head and shoulders above second place Indera SC, and with only two dropped points in seven games, look good money to take the title in the first season of the DST Super League.
--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin