Najip FC beat Perkasa, go second

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Tuesday, April 3, 2012

A GOAL each from Sahrul Hj Sabatu and Awg Huzaimi Hj Awg Tengah was enough to secure Najip FC their third win in the DST National Football League 2012, propelling them to second place, just two points behind the group leader LLRC FT

The team defeated Perkasa 2-1 in group A at the Berakas Sports Complex in Bandar Seri Begawan last night. Najip FC got off to a good start early in the game. However, Perkasa settled down after and put their opponent on the back foot for the rest of the first half with the midfield duo of Saifuny Sawal and Abd Taib Hj Jais dominating the middle of the park.

Abd Taib's freekick from the right side of the midfield found Awg Zulhirni Awg Rais at the near post but failed to find the net as his header hit the bar in the 28th minute. There were not many real chances made in the first half and the score remained 0-0 going into the second half.

Perkasa continued to dominate the game in the second half, however it was Najip FC who broke the deadlock when Sahrul easily headed in the ball into the net when goalkeeper Muhd Zairulhafiy Hj Mat Zaini spilled the ball following a teasing cross by Awg Haji Hj Awg Tengah in the 50th minute.

It only took three minutes, when winger Md Hilmi Wasli blasted the ball past the goalkeeper from outside the box to level the score to 1-1.

Awg Huzaimi restored Najip's lead in the 77th minute when his great first touch turned the Perkasa defenders inside out and the wrong way before firing a shot to beat the goalkeeper.

Najip FC manager Mohd Najip Moktal was happy to see his team grabbing another three points in the game, despite not dominating the game.

"It is a good win for us, another three points tonight, (but) I am not satisfied with my players performance in the first half, so I made tactical changes in the second half by playing a counter attack and made a few substitutions, it changed the game afterwards," he said.

"Three wins and one draw and we are yet to lose a game this season, but in the next game we are going to play against the LLRC FT, in my opinion they are the strongest team in the group, I would be happy if we could at least get a point from this game,"he said. The Brunei Times