AFC U-16 CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 QUALIFIERS GROUP F: HONG KONG 1-2 BRUNEI DS

Brunei Darussalam - thanks to striker Mohammad Aminuddin Masri's (picture above) brace - came from behind to beat Hong Kong 2-1 in their AFC U-16 Championship 2018 Malaysia Group F qualifying tie at the Fu Jen University in New Taipei City on Friday.

It was Brunei's second win of the Qualifier, having beaten Macau 4-0 on Matchday One. However, Brunei lost their next two matches to Chinese Taipei (2-1) and DPR Korea (9-0).

For Hong Kong, it was their second defeat after having lost 2-0 to Chinese Taipei in their opener. They beat Macau 5-0 in their second match.

On Friday, Hong Kong looked headed for a win after Tung Willis Siu Hang have them the lead from the penalty spot in the 38th minute. It was a case of Brunei suffering a double blow as defender Mohammad Aisan Aisamuddin Abdullah Mohammad Aiman was also red-carded.

Hong Kong, however, failed to build on that in the second half and allowed Brunei to claw their way back into the tie when Masri scored the equaliser in the 60th minute. 

Masri then turned hero when he scored Brunei's winner a minute from full time to ensure his team ended their campaign on a winning note.

Photos: AFC

http://www.the-afc.com/u-16-championship-2018/qualifiers-group-f-md4-hong-kong-brunei-chinese-taipei-dpr-korea

U18: Big win for Vietnam in opener

YANGON (7 Sept 2017) – Vietnam scored a big opening win in their campaign in Group B when they thumped Brunei DS 8-1 on the fourth match day of the AFF Under-18 Championship here at the Thuwunna Stadium.

With Brunei having beaten the Philippines in their first game in the group two days earlier, there were expectations that they would at least give Vietnam a hard fight in the match that was affected by the persistent rain yet again.

But in the end, Vietnam were just too organised as they scored three goals in the first half before adding further goals after the breather for the comprehensive win.

“It is our first game played under heavy condition,” said Le Xuan Tu afterwards. “We still have several more matches to play, so we have to be careful (with player selection).”

Xuan Tu was the first to get on to the score sheet when he headed home the cross from Truong Tien Anh in the 15th minute.

Tien Anh then rocked the Brunei post with a stiff grounder in the 24th minute before Vietnam added the second goal two minutes later with a close range effort from Nguyen Hong Son.

Brunei managed to pull a goal back when Muhammad Nur Asyraffahmi Norsamri capitalised on a defensive mistake in the 44thminute as Tran Van Cong then restored Vietnam’s advantage moments later for them to take a 3-1 lead going into the second half.

Vietnam then took full control of the game after the break as they pushed Brunei back into their own half before piling on the goals off Xuan Tu (74th minute), Dang Van Toi (77th), Nguyen Khac Khiem (78th and 90th) and Mai Sy Hoang (89th).

“We tried to match Vietnam as much as possible but they just had too much quality with their technical ability and physical endurance,” added Asyraffahmi.

http://www.aseanfootball.org/v2/2017/09/u18-big-win-vietnam-opener/

U18: Wadud’s header gives Brunei opening win

YANGON (5 Sept 2017) – A header just after the hour mark from defender Abdul Wadud Ramli gave Brunei their opening 3-2 win over the Philippines in the first game of Group B of the AFF Under-18 Championship here at the Thuwunna Stadium.

“We are of course very happy to pick up our first full points which is really our first international win,” said striker Muhammad Abdul Mateen Said. “Now we have to prepare well for our next game.”

In spite of the threat of rain, both teams took to the game in high spirit as they were on the offensive from the get go.

It was the Philippines who got onto the score sheet first with Mariano Suba punishing the mistake from Brunei defender Mohamad Azirul Asmadi Aji to score past keeper Muhd Amirul Hakim Zulkarnain.

But the lead was just for less than a minute as Abdul Mateen ran in from the right for a fabulous grounder beyond the reach of Philippines keeper Jessie Semblante.

Going into the second half, it was Brunei who pushed ahead where a dangerous run was met with a foul on Muhammad Nur Asyraffahmi Norsamri, who then got up to blast his team into the lead with a well taken penalty.

The Philippines upped the tempo in search of the equaliser and in the 55th minute, they drew level with a fabulous header from captain Fidel Tacardon who nodded home a Robert Wilson corner.

However, Brunei seemed to be a little more determined on the day as Wadud then provided them with the winning header from a Muhammad Nur Asyraffahmi cross in the 65th minute.

The Philippines threw everything they had soon after with the hope of drawing the game to steal at least a point, but it was not to be as the score stood all the way to the finish.

“We made some mistakes and that gifted the game to Brunei,” said Suba. “Now we have to made the corrections in training to make sure that we get better for the next match.”

http://www.aseanfootball.org/v2/2017/09/u18-waduds-header-gives-brunei-opening-win/

SEA Games Team return to Brunei

NATIONAL coach Kwon Oh-son wants Brunei to come back stronger at the next SEA Games after returning without a point from this year’s edition in Kuala Lumpur.

Brunei started off with a 2-1 loss to hosts Malaysia before a 6-0 defeat to Myanmar and a 4-0 loss to Laos. The team completed their Group A campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Singapore on Wednesday before returning to Brunei early today morning.

“Overall the performance was there, but the results were disappointing,” said Kwon.

“We gave a good fight in the games against Malaysia and Singapore, but we were not as focused or as confident in the games against Laos and Myanmar.

“We cannot stop here. A lot of these players are eligible to play at the next SEA Games in 2019, so we have to maintain this team and try harder then,” added the South Korean.

Present at the Brunei International Airport to welcome the team home were National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) Acting Vice President Hj Madli Mohd Yussof and other NFABD officials.

“I want to congratulate you as you gave it your best at the SEA Games, although there are some other things which need analysis and more work,” said Hj Madli.

“Praise has to be given for your performances against Malaysia and Singapore… And I hope you will keep training hard to produce improved results in the future.”

http://www.nfabd.org/press-release/2017082601.htm

Manager proud of players

BRUNEI’S manager Ah Chua Bangau praised the national Under-22 team’s depth after their slim 1-0 loss to Singapore in their last 2017 SEA Games match on Wednesday.

The defeat meant Brunei finished bottom of the five-team Group A table without a point to their name, but Ah Chua said there were some positives to take from the match at the Selayang Municipal Stadium in Selangor.

“We started with all of our substitutes and two of our first-11, and the players who were given the trust to play tried their best - although there were some nerves,” he said.

“I am proud of the players because they were able to carry out the tasks handed to them by the coach (Kwon Oh-son).

“Overall the team competed well and were able to prevent Singapore from scoring in the first half.

“Singapore launched many attacks but they were saved by our goalkeeper Muhammad Ishyra Asmin Mohd Jabidi, who was named Man of the Match.

“We were also able to create a few chances but they were not converted,” he added.

Brunei held Singapore at bay until the 75th minute, when a cross into the box hit Brunei’s Khalid Wassadisalleh Hj Mahmud’s thigh and bounced past Muhammad Ishyra.

Filling in for Haimie Anak Nyaring, Muhammad Ishyra was a solid presence in the Brunei goal and produced key saves late in the first half and early in the second half to deny Singapore’s attacks.

Though Singapore mounted many attacks in the second half, Brunei’s organised defence prevented Singapore from scoring and were unlucky to concede the own goal.

Tomorrow’s semi-finals will see Malaysia take on Indonesia and Thailand face Myanmar.

The final is set for Tuesday.

http://www.nfabd.org/press-release/2017082502.htm