27 March 2016

Kota Ranger beat Jerudong, pick up first win

Sunday, March 27, 2016


NEWLY promoted Kota Ranger FC picked up their first three points in the DST Super League after beating Jerudong FC 4-2 at the Berakas Sports Complex last night.

The former DST Premier League champions broke the deadlock in just 40 seconds of the game – the fastest goal scored so far in the league after Ak Ammar Hanafie Pg Hassanuddin eased his shot into the net.

Jerudong did not let the early goal shook them as they pulled one back after through Hidayatur Rahim Aliuddin five minutes later.

Both teams gained momentum after the early goals, however, Kota Ranger rued their missed chances, notably in the 23rd minute when Md Hairun Ikhwan Kusno was awarded a free-kick just outside of Jerudong FC’s penalty box where his shot went off wide.

Kota Ranger regained their lead in the 32nd minute after team skipper, Abang Nor Sillmy Abang Taha’s header went past Jerudong’s goalkeeper, Abd Hafiz Hj Musadi who stretched but failed to save the shot.

Second half saw Md Hairun Ikhwan redeemed himself after he scored a bracer in the 52nd minute and his second goal two minutes later making it 4-1 for Kota Ranger.

Despite trailing 4-1, Jerudong FC pushed for another goal and challenged Kota Ranger through out the end of the second half - where they scored a second consolation goal in the 92nd minute after Md Arif Ali Rahman’s header went past Kota Ranger’s goalkeeper, Mohd Faizal Hashim.

Despite the win, Kota Ranger's assistant head coach, Abang Nor Hillmy Abang Taha felt that the pressure from the playing in the DST Super League was overwhelming.

“The DST Super League is Brunei’s top-notch league and this match against Jerudong FC showed us that,” said Abang Nor Hillmy in a post-match interview with The Brunei Times.

“It’s only been two games so far and we definitely feel the pressure, especially when we lost 5-1 in our first game against Tabuan Muda (national Under-23 football team).

“There’s a huge gap in terms of the quality of the matches and the sport between the DST Super League and the DST Premier League.

“We have to set aside of when we were unbeaten last year and were crowned champions in the DST Premier League, but that was then and this is now.

“We have seen how top clubs such as Indera Sports Club (SC) have played and we have to give 100 per cent of our efforts in just challenging them.

“It’s too early to say anything now, but we have to remain focused,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the other DST Super League match saw defending champions, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) edged Najip I-Team 1-0 after Pvt Abd Azizi Ali Rahman scored the only goal in the 26th minute at the Tutong Sports Complex.

The Brunei Times

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