INDERA KEEP TITLE HOPES ALIVE

by AK FAUZI PG SALLEH

A FITTING 'edge of the seat' finish is in store for the inaugural season of the DST Super League.

The league will only be able to crown its first champion on the very last day of the season as Indera Sports Club moved within three points of leaders Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) following their 3-1 victory over Royal Brunei Police Forces Sports Council (MS PDB) last night.

The top two clubs in the competition will clash on Sunday at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium and a win for Indera will put them level on points against MS ABDB. Their superior goal difference will however see them go home with the DST Super League title.

"We will fight for the entire 90 minutes. We will fight for a win. Both (Indera and MS ABDB) are the best attacking teams in the country. I am expecting a tough game and I think MS ABDB will go out to win the game too," said Indera SC manager Rosdin Hj Abdul Aziz in an interview with The Brunei Times after the match.

Indera went into the game last night knowing that anything less than three points at the Balapan Track & Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas will dash their hopes of winning the title this year.

They started the game brightly early in the first-half with their typical flowing and assured short passes.

This made for several scoring opportunities but they struggled to find their way past the MS PDB back four.

They would find the back of the net in the 18th minute via current top scorer of the league with 16 goals Azwan Ali Rahman.

Azwan unleashed a thunderous strike just from outside the penalty area to beat MS PDB goalkeeper Mohd Khairol Amin Hj Zainuddin.

The prolific scorer could have made it 2-0 just before the half time whistle but his volley off of a Mohd Nazirul Nazreen Abdullah cross went inches wide.

The policemen came out a more determined team after the restart.

They dominated the midfield area and captain Rosmini Hj Abdul Kahar went close in the 50th minute but his header was parried by Indera goalkeeper Ak Mohd Nur Aqamaddin Pg Hj Salehuddin.

They continued to pile on the pressure on the offensive and created multiple chances but failed to finish, allowing Indera to slowly regain the flow of their game.

Indera found the back of the net in just their first offensive attempt in the second half.

Centre-back Reduan Hj Petara rising above the MS PDB defenders to head home Mohammad Azwan's cross from the right in the 60th minute to double his team's lead.

Mohd Hamizan Abdul Aziz made it 3-0 two minutes later with a brilliant solo effort.

He dribbled past five MS PDB players from the midfield area before rounding the goalkeeper to score his 13th goal of the season.

MS PDB managed to pull one back when Captain Rosmini calmly tapped in Mohd Zulkhairie Hj Md Salleh's cross from the right in the 86th minutes.

"All the players played very well tonight. The policemen played very well too. But we needed to win the game so we were very cautious in the second-half," said Indera's assistant coach Ali Hj Mustapa.

"I told my players to keep possession of the ball, delay the game and try to score when there are chances," he said.

The policemen , having played their final game of the season, is currently fourth in the table.

They will drop to fifth if QAF FC beat Najip FC on Saturday.

"I am very satisfied with my players. Even though we did not achieve the target of being in the top three, overall I am happy with their performance this season," said MS PDB head coach Sahrin Hj Mohd Jaya.

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