02 June 2013

Brunei U-15 kick off campaign on wrong foot

Sunday, June 2, 2013
THE National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) Under-15 fell to a 4-1 defeat to Frenz Indonesia in their Group B opener of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) - Frenz Under-15 ASEAN Champions Trophy last night.

Both teams kicked off the game with a good pace at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

Indonesia were trying their luck from distance but it was Brunei who struck first, Muhd Syahmi Rasyid giving the hosts a surprising lead after he scored on a turnaround shot.

The visitors equalised four minutes later after Imanes Novanrianto headed in a Syahviar Amril Jadid cross from the left.

Ichtio Nimatul Akbar tested Brunei keeper Muhd Ishyra Asmin Mohd Jabidi on goal with a long range effort three minutes later.

Indonesian captain Doddy Alfayed should have put his team infront after going one-on-one against Muhd Ishyra Asmin in the 39th minute. However, the latter cleared his line and did well to put up a save.

Haimie Anak Nyaring almost scored the second goal for the home side in the 42nd minute after his freekick from just inside the half way line saw Indonesia keeper Achmad Iqbal Bachtiar at full stretch to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Indonesia responded immediately in the next minute but Brunei were fortunate as Abdul Matin Norazlan cleared the ball off the goal line.

The visitors started off the second half brightly and were more patient in finding an opening.

They grabbed the lead just three minutes in after Ichtio Nimatul Akbar headed home a cross from the right.

Indonesia were in total control and the home side were on the backfoot much of the way.

Brunei couldn't push the ball up and were left catching their breath.

Indonesia found the back of the net again in the 72nd minute from a counterattack.

Dicky Rhomadhona Firmansyah had got around Muhd Ishyra Asmin to score but was flagged for offside.

After several chances, they finally extended their cushion in the 78th minute after a ball by Muhammad Dimas Hargiharso from their own half was met by Dicky on the left for an easy tap in.

The misery didn't end there for Brunei as substitute Abdul Ali Nahumarury got his name on the scoresheet in injury time to put the icing on the cake.

NFABD U-15 head coach, Liew Chuan Fue, is looking for better showings from his players for the upcoming games.

"This is the first game and it is good exposure for the kids. Most of them have never experienced something like that and I believe we can get better since there is a long way to go in the competition," said Liew.

"I feel the performance was alright considering the amount of training we have had. Our opponents were just a stronger and better team. We will just continue to work hard and also to better our weaknesses," added Liew, who only had his first training session with the team on Wednesday.

His counterpart, Encang Ibrahim, felt that it was their fitness that gave them the edge on getting the win.

"It was an exciting match. Brunei are also a good team but I guess we are a more experienced side," said Encang, who is also the team's manager.

"They didn't get to prepare as much as us and we were better in terms of physical. It was the advantage that we have to help us win," he concluded.

Myanmar Mandalay Academy, Lao Toyota Academy, Philippines Global FC Under-15, and Frenz Malaysia B are the other teams in Group B.

Group A is made up of Frenz Malaysia A, Singapore NFA, Vietnam PVF Academy, Phnom Penh Crown Academy, Thailand Chonburi Academy and Timor Leste U-15s.

The Brunei Times

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