MARCH, INDERA SCORE WINNING GOALS AT DST GROUP BPL

BY JASON THOMAS 

IT WAS last minute controversy during last night's DSTGroup Brunei Premier League 2007/2008 match between March United FC and NBT FC at the Belapan Track and Field in Berakas which ended 2-1 in favour of March.


After a scramble in the box, Mat Zidi Hj Jumat netted the winning goal in the dying seconds of the game to send the March United bench into a frenzy since they knew they had just won their first match of the season.

But the ball had not yet even crossed the goal-line before the NBT players were rushing to the linesman and complaining that the March player was in an offside position when he scored.

After the pandemonium, the match resumed with NBT kicking off. 

But after a few passes around the pitch, the referee blew the final whistle and the NBT players were at the linesman again while their opponents were busy celebrating their goal.

"Personally, I do not think he (Mat Zidi) was offside and we deserved to win," stated March United manager Mazlan Abd Hamid.

"We scored in the first minute itself, and though NBT were able to equalise, I would like to praise my players' for their fighting spirit until the end," added Mazlan after the match.

Naturally, his counterpart was not of the same opinion.

"I definitely think the player was offside, and perhaps the linesman's view was blocked by other players," said NBT's Abdul Morad Hj Rani.

"It was a controversial decision to allow the goal, so I feel it is only natural that were were not satisfied with the result."

Though Abdul Morad might not have been pleased with how his team have started their season with a loss, Mat Zidi and his team mates were far better throughout the 90 minutes.

Playing last season in the Brunei-League Premier II, Mat Zidi's header in the first minute gave March a dream start to their first season in the top-tier.

The men in yellow would go on to create several chances in the first half, but were unable to find a second goal.

That cost them 15 minutes into the second half, when NBT's Mohamad Adib Hj Akup ran on to a through ball from midfield and scored after a one-on-one with Hj Norsukryzal Hj Abd Wahab in the March goal.

Both teams had the chance to win the game after the equaliser which resulted in a more open match, but in the end, it just might have been March's lucky night.

The other match of the night saw Indera FC beat Kasuka FC 3-1 at the Berakas Sports Complex in what was the first match of the season for both teams.

Zulazri Gapor opened the scoring in the 25th minute to give Kasuka a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room.

Md Saifuddin Hj Abd Razak made it 1-1 in the half-hour mark, and after the sensational Md Julremi Hj Zaini gave Indera the lead in the 78th minute, Md Karimurrizal Kasmi netted in the 90th minute to complete the comeback.

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