TABUAN Muda Under-21 (national under-21 team) secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Najip I-Team in the DST Super League at the Berakas Sports Complex yesterday.
Md Syahmi Rashid bagged a brace while the other goal came from Md Shafie Hj Md Effendy helped lift the young wasps into second place with 10 points, surpassing Wijaya FC in the 10-team table. Tabuan U-21 broke the deadlock in the sixth minute when Md Syahmi eased his shot into the net after passing through Najip’s line of defenders.
Md Shafie doubled the advantage in the 20th minute after Najip’s goalkeeper Ron Junior Philip failed to stop the youngster’s shot.
Despite trailing 2-0, Najip pushed for a goal but Tabuan’s 17-year-old goalkeeper Md Ishyra Asmin Mohd Jabidi denied Abd Azim Abd Rahman’s free-kick shot in the 54th minute.
Md Syahmi scored his last goal of the day in the 64th minute after receiving a free-kick shot from Md Hanif Hamir from inside Najip’s penalty box.
Tabuan Muda’s assistant coach, Hj Faizalani Hj Abd Ghani was delighted with the win but praised Najip I-Team for giving his side a challenging match.
“The win was great, especially against a tough and experienced team like Najip,” said Hj Faizalani in a post-match interview yesterday. “Despite trailing 3-0, Najip pushed for goals and they created a lot of chances, but luck was not on their side. “The youngsters needed the boost from the win, but at the end of the day, any match in the DST Super League serves as a platform for their exposure in a semi-professional league.
“They are dedicated and they’re young, so they have plenty of room to improve,” he added.
Meanwhile, the other DST Super League match saw former DST Premier League champions, Kota Ranger FC edged past Lun Bawang 3-2 at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
Lun Bawang took the lead early in the first half after Romaino Maripa scored in the third minute. The Temburong-based team doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute after Tauriq Azman scored.
Kota Ranger pulled one back in the 68th minute from Abang Nor Sillmy Abang Taha before he equalised in the 76th minute through a penalty.
A late goal from Kota Ranger’s Md Hairun Ikhwan Kusno in the 86th minute sealed three points for the newly promoted team.
The DST Premier League will continue tonight with Panchur Murai taking on Brunei Shell Recreation Centre (BSRC) FT at the Tutong Sports complex at 8.15pm.
The Brunei Times
