Wijaya FC’s Abdul Azim Abd Rasid (L) and Jerudong FC’s
Mohd Shah Azahar Abdullah vie for the ball in their DST Super League
game at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National
Sports Complex in Berakas last night.BT/Zaim Kasmat
Thursday, May 14, 2015
A
FIRST-HALF red card spoiled Jerudong FC’s game last night as they gave
away their lead to allow Wijaya FC to bag their third win of the DST
Super League.Wijaya came back from 2-1 down after 30 minutes to win 3-2 at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas, and the three points keep Wijaya in fourth - but level on nine points with defending champions Indera Sports Club (SC) and three points behind leaders Najip I-Team.
Jerudong was reduced to 10 men just before the break after Mohd Shaeruddin Suhaile landed a brash two-footed tackle on Wijaya FC winger Abd Azim Abd Rasid.
After the match, Wijaya manager Ahyana Hj Tali said that it was a tough game early on as Jerudong were dangerous on the counter-attack until their red card.
“I don’t want to say that it was one sided, but that red card really tilted the game in our favour,” said the manager, who fielded a 4-1-3-2 formation last night.
“We played alright considering we had a number of key players. Unfortunately, we had to play some players in positions they were not used - hence the shaky start we had in the game.
“It is still early in the season and we should take it game by game, so at the moment we hope to do better than last season and be knocking on the door of getting in the top five,” he said of his team’s target this season.
The match kicked off on a high tempo with four goals in the first half, with Khalil Saab breaking the deadlock and putting Wijaya FC in front after just seven minutes.
Wijaya kept the ball in midfield well, but they struggled to cope with Jerudong’s blitzkrieg runs on the flanks.
A Jerudong run into the box in the 18th minute was rewarded when they won a free-kick right at the edge of the box and veteran midfielder Md Hardi Bujang curled in a sublime shot to the top corner, leaving Wijaya’s 19-year-old goalkeeper Md Burhanuddin Hj Edy Asmady eating grass.
The equaliser spurred Jerudong on and they went ahead again through a simple tap in by Sadilah Samail in the 28th minute.
The game changer came when Khalil picked out Wijaya winger Abd Azim Abd Rasid’s run and hit a through pass.
The winger beat his marker and Jerudong’s Mohd Shaeruddin, who was already booked, took him down and got his second yellow of the night.
From the resulting free-kick, Khalil delivered a stinging swerving cross met by Muhd Hanif Omar Ali - who headed the ball and floated it over Jerudong custodian Abd Samad Hj Gapor - making it 2-2 right before the break.
The second half went from bad to worse for Jerudong as Wijaya’s Marhazif Ahad was brought down in the box just two minutes after the break. Marhazif took the penalty and coolly slotted in the winning goal of the night.
Jerudong was no longer the same side in the second half and they did not pose any serious threat to Wijaya goalie Md Burhanuddin.
DST Super League action will continue again this Sunday with a blockbuster match between league leaders Najip I-Team and Indera SC at the Balapan Track and Field.
The game is slated for an 8.15pm kick-off.
The Brunei Times
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