GUN-NED DOWN BY INDERA AM GUNNERS PAY PENALTY IN LEAGUE CUP
Jason ThomasSaturday, May 21, 2011
An AM Gunners player (in red) shields the ball from Indera Sports Club players in their DST Group Brunei League Cup 2011 match at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas last night. Picture: BT/ Raul Padernal
INDERA Sports Club's fans were in a celebratory mood after edging AM Gunners FC 8-7 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the DST Group Brunei League Cup 2011 last night.
Though they twice enjoyed the lead at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, Indera let their guard down and allowed the Gunners to tie the game at 2-2 to force penalties.
In the end Indera's captain Ak Shahruddin Pg Hj Tejuddin was the man of the moment, scoring his penalty before AM Gunners' Md Nazri Hj Hassan saw his saved by Md Norul Zulhilmi Mustapa.
Indera's coach was happy his men were able to progress to the last eight but said that the tie should have been settled in regulation time. "Our defenders lost focus. We were leading twice and the game should not have gone to penalties," said Moksen Mohammad after the game.
"But I'm still happy with how they handled their shots," added the ex-national player, who saw none of his men miss from the spot.
Md Khayrun Salleh, Azwan Mohd Salleh, Hamizan Aziz Sulaiman, Ak Asrul Asdynee Pg Sahdon and Sahrin Momin scored from 12 yards for Indera while Ak Anaqi Sufi Pg Hj Omar Baki, Shahrul Rizal Hj Abd Rahman, Md Najib Hj Tarif, Md Syarafuddin Hamdi Hj Talip got on the sheet for the Gunners to force the tie into even more penalties.
Md Helmi Zambin scored for Indera before Abdul Aziz Tamit made it 6-6 for the Gunners.
Md 'Afi Aminuddin netted for Indera to give them the lead but Md Nazirul Nazreen Abdullah evened things up before Ak Shahruddin took his winning shot.
The open and free-flowing first half was controlled by Indera, who had the better of the chances, possession and territory.
Md Khayrun and DPMM FC midfielder Sairol Hj Sahari always looked dangerous on the left flank and it was through the duo's hard work that Indera finally broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute.
A pass from Sairol to Md Khayrun saw the latter pick out Md Helmi in the box, who danced past two defenders and unleashed a shot which beat Abi Yazid Yusof.
Ak Anaqi Sufi equalised 10 minutes later with a well-taken free-kick but the Gunners would continue to find chances hard to come by and the game would be forced into extra-time.
Sairol was the first to react to a corner-kick in the 99th minute with a deft flick but his DPMM FC teammate Hj Md Subhi Abdilah Hj Bakir would net in the 109th minute with a header off another corner-kick.
The match was the second which had to be decided on penalties after Majra FC's 4-2 win over the Prisons Department in the same stage of the competition on Tuesday night.
Action continues tonight when defending champions QAF FC face Lun Bawang. Brunei Youth FC take on Menglait FC tomorrow while Monday's game will see Kilanas FC go up against DST Group FT.
All games are set for the Balapan Track and Field at 8pm.
