INDERA WIN MID-TABLE TUSSLE
Jason ThomasBANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Indera FC midfielder Sairol Hj Sahari (in white shirt, right) and teammate Azwan Salleh in action against Wijaya FC during their DSTGroup BPL I match at the Berakas Sports Complex last night. Picture: BT/ Saifulizam
INDERA FC pipped Wijaya FC 1-0 last night to steal sixth in the DSTGroup Brunei Premier League I (BPL I) table in a lively mid-table clash.
Though they were left chasing the ball for most of the 90 minutes at the Berakas Sports Complex, Indera were still able to overcome Wijaya and now enjoy a two-point lead over them in the standings.
Indera have collected 12 points from 11 games, leaving Wijaya seventh in the 10-team table with 10 points.
Neither goalkeeper was really threatened until the 15th minute when Muhd Nashruddin Salamat did well to save a looping header from Indera's Md Khayrun Salleh.
Indera were handed a blow minutes before that when experienced defender Sharin Zaini limped off the field to be replaced by Mohd Salihen Suhaimi.
Ex-DPMM FC midfielder Azwan Salleh stung Muhd Nashruddin's gloves in the 20th minute with a fierce free-kick, with Md Amirulizam Pungut and Ak Khairul Lizam Pg Hj Bungsu also carving chances of their own for Wijaya.
Wijaya's Zulkefly Duraman also had a scoring opportunity but his free-kick from distance sailed inches over the bar minutes before the break.
Pg Serfuddin Pg Hj Md Salleh's half-time team talk did the trick because Indera grabbed the lead a minute after the restart.
A cross from the right flank found Abdul Al-Wardi Abd Hamid in space inside the penalty area, and the unmarked 17-year-old midfielder easily headed home.
The presence of Azwan and ex-DPMM FC teammate Sairol Hj Sahari in Indera's midfield should have seen them control the middle of the park, but Wijaya's good pressure off the ball meant it was the men in black and yellow that were pulling all the strings.
Moving the ball around well, their only downfall was the lack of quality final passes.
The injured Sairol was replaced by Muhd Zulhazmi Hj Awang mid-way through the half, and the latter nearly provided the team's second goal when he strung a through pass to Md Khayrun.
But with only the goalkeeper to beat, Md Khayrun fired wide. He had another golden opportunity to add to Indera's lead a minute later but his unmarked header failed to find the target.
Jamrin Hj Johari forced Muhd Nashruddin into another good save during a free-kick in the last quarter of an hour, and the goalkeeper was again up to the task five minutes later to keep out a header from Marhazif Ahad.
Shahronie Hj Bungsu hit the left side-netting in the dying minutes of the game for Indera, and despite the team being second best for most of the game, their coach was not complaining. "We achieved what we came here to do, win three points and overcome Wijaya in the table," said Indera's coach Pg Serfuddin.
"Overall, I can say that the players' performance is improving from time to time, though the same can be said of Wijaya who really did well in countering our attack.
"I identified a few problem areas such as our ineffective attack, so we will have to work on that," added the former DPMM FC assistant coach.It was Wijaya's second defeat in the space of a week, losing 7-2 to AH United last Saturday.
AH United beat NBT FC 4-1 in last night's other game at the Balapan Track and Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Ak Asrul Asydnee Pg Sahdon opened the scoring from the penalty spot to give AH United a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute and Md Nazirul Nazreen Abdullah doubled the team's lead four minutes later.
Ak Asrin Pg Hj Mohammaddin made it 2-1 a minute into the second half but Md Nazirul Nazreen would score his second five minutes later, with Muhd Maududi Hilmi Kasmi making it 4-1 in the 70th minute.
Though they were left chasing the ball for most of the 90 minutes at the Berakas Sports Complex, Indera were still able to overcome Wijaya and now enjoy a two-point lead over them in the standings.
Indera have collected 12 points from 11 games, leaving Wijaya seventh in the 10-team table with 10 points.
Neither goalkeeper was really threatened until the 15th minute when Muhd Nashruddin Salamat did well to save a looping header from Indera's Md Khayrun Salleh.
Indera were handed a blow minutes before that when experienced defender Sharin Zaini limped off the field to be replaced by Mohd Salihen Suhaimi.
Ex-DPMM FC midfielder Azwan Salleh stung Muhd Nashruddin's gloves in the 20th minute with a fierce free-kick, with Md Amirulizam Pungut and Ak Khairul Lizam Pg Hj Bungsu also carving chances of their own for Wijaya.
Wijaya's Zulkefly Duraman also had a scoring opportunity but his free-kick from distance sailed inches over the bar minutes before the break.
Pg Serfuddin Pg Hj Md Salleh's half-time team talk did the trick because Indera grabbed the lead a minute after the restart.
A cross from the right flank found Abdul Al-Wardi Abd Hamid in space inside the penalty area, and the unmarked 17-year-old midfielder easily headed home.
The presence of Azwan and ex-DPMM FC teammate Sairol Hj Sahari in Indera's midfield should have seen them control the middle of the park, but Wijaya's good pressure off the ball meant it was the men in black and yellow that were pulling all the strings.
Moving the ball around well, their only downfall was the lack of quality final passes.
The injured Sairol was replaced by Muhd Zulhazmi Hj Awang mid-way through the half, and the latter nearly provided the team's second goal when he strung a through pass to Md Khayrun.
But with only the goalkeeper to beat, Md Khayrun fired wide. He had another golden opportunity to add to Indera's lead a minute later but his unmarked header failed to find the target.
Jamrin Hj Johari forced Muhd Nashruddin into another good save during a free-kick in the last quarter of an hour, and the goalkeeper was again up to the task five minutes later to keep out a header from Marhazif Ahad.
Shahronie Hj Bungsu hit the left side-netting in the dying minutes of the game for Indera, and despite the team being second best for most of the game, their coach was not complaining. "We achieved what we came here to do, win three points and overcome Wijaya in the table," said Indera's coach Pg Serfuddin.
"Overall, I can say that the players' performance is improving from time to time, though the same can be said of Wijaya who really did well in countering our attack.
"I identified a few problem areas such as our ineffective attack, so we will have to work on that," added the former DPMM FC assistant coach.It was Wijaya's second defeat in the space of a week, losing 7-2 to AH United last Saturday.
AH United beat NBT FC 4-1 in last night's other game at the Balapan Track and Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Ak Asrul Asydnee Pg Sahdon opened the scoring from the penalty spot to give AH United a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute and Md Nazirul Nazreen Abdullah doubled the team's lead four minutes later.
Ak Asrin Pg Hj Mohammaddin made it 2-1 a minute into the second half but Md Nazirul Nazreen would score his second five minutes later, with Muhd Maududi Hilmi Kasmi making it 4-1 in the 70th minute.
