Najip I-Team move to second spot

Nadzirah Malek-Webb 

 

Bandar Seri Begawan 

 

Sunday, September 6, 2015 

NAJIP I-Team secured a narrow 2-1 win over bottom dweller Kilanas FC in the DST Super League second round match at the Padang and Balapan Sports complex Berakas, last night.

Kilanas held Najip throughout the first half displaying strong defence and brilliant goalkeeping by Mohd Hasdattul Anirull Rizam Hassan. 

However, a last minute goal in the stoppage time from Najip’s Mohammad Azri Zahari broke the deadlock by heading from a high cross from Muhd Karimurrizal Kasmi outside the box.

The second half saw Kilanas FC pushing for an equaliser, and surely enough, a fumble from Najip’s goalkeeper and captain Fardillah Hj Md Ali who failed to clear, delivered an opportunity for Kilanas FC’s Pg Khairullizam Pg Bungsu to bag his goal of the night in the 67th minute.

A minute later, a bad challenge from Kilanas’ Abd Qohar Isa Ibrahim gave a freekick for Najip right outside the box and gave Najip’s Abdul Azim Abdul Rahman to score a straight shot into the goal. 

The goal helped secure three points for Najip I-Team placing them second in the table with 21 points, two points ahead of defending champions Indera SC.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, Najip I-Team coach Zulkipli Hj Abu Bakar has expressed mixed feelings with his win and has rued the missed chances from his side.

“We won but it was a narrow win with three points which is important at the moment, but we should have scored more goals. 

We need these goals because of our low goal differences. Kilanas did a great job in their defending, as in the last round we won 4-1 against them, but tonight they gave us quite a challenge.”

Zulkpli has emphasised the huge gap between their games broke their momentum, and any win at this stage is crucial in their campaign. 

“We haven’t played in over a month and that disrupted a bit of our momentum. We want to showcase a good game but it is not helping if we have such huge gaps in our schedules. We hope the NFABD (National Football Association of Football Brunei Darussalam) can see that,” he said.

Meanwhile, The Royal Brunei Police Force Sports Council (MS PDB) battered Lun Bawang 4-0 in a match played at the Berakas Sports Complex placing them in seventh place and Lun Bawang dropped down to ninth in the table.

Jerudong FC will face off the national team Tabuan Muda today at 4pm held at the Padang and Balapan Sports complex Berakas.

The Brunei Times