BAYONG SENDS QAF FC TO SUMMIT
Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
VIBAN FRANCIS BAYONG broke Jerudong FC's hearts last night with a goal in injury-time to send QAF FC back to the top of the DSTGroup Brunei Premier League I (BPL I) with a 2-1 win.
Though he netted both of the defending champions' goals at the Balapan Track & Field, Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas, the Cameroonian midfielder was quick to deflect any individual praise.
A free-kick from Ak Md Kamarul Ariffin Pg Ramlee in the 92nd minute was met by Bayong, who also opened the scoring for QAF FC in the 27th minute when he tapped in a header from Md Aqmal Hakeem Abd Hamid.
"I thank the team for playing well ... All the guys did a great job today (Monday)," said Bayong.
"It is not only about Viban, we won because the team played well. Did you see that cross? If it wasn't for him (Ak Md Kamarul Ariffin) we would not have won," he added.
With the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) leading the 10-team table by a point prior to the game, Bayong acknowledged how crucial last night's win was.
"It was a league game and we needed the points to stay at the top of the table. We need to be at the top!" he emphasised to the Press.
League leaders QAF FC now have 12 points, two more than arch-rivals MS ABDB.
The stocky midfielder could have netted inside the first five minutes, but his shot from outside the box was tapped out for a corner-kick by Abdul Hafiz Hj Mursadi in between the Jerudong posts.
QAF FC striker Adie Arsham Muhd Salleh was next to test the goalkeeper, going on a mazy run which evaded three defenders but watching his shot from point-blank saved by Abdul Hafiz.
Enddy Soehardy Awg Sapar equalised for Jerudong in what was their first real chance of the game in the 31st minute, finishing off a deft one-two inside the box with Sufri Mohaimin to skirt a normally water-tight QAF FC backline.
Md Aqmal Hakeem scuffed a chance to score five minutes before the break during a counter-attack with only Abdul Hafiz to beat, but he miskicked a cross from Adie Arsham.
QAF FC were penned in their own box during the last minute of the first half, unable to clear the ball with Jerudong pressuring every player.
The second period was marked by the lack of quality passes by both teams, and chances were few and far between.
Sufri had a chance to score Jerudong's second during a counter-attack on the hour mark but his cross-goal shot was just wide of the left post though he might have been better advised to pick out Enddy Soehardy who was waiting unmarked inside the box.
Adie Arsham's pin-point cross to Bayong inside the penalty area was met with a header which was saved by Abdul Hafiz in the 80th minute, which must have prompted Jerudong's risky decision to use all their substitutes minutes later.
It nearly paid off when Mohd Azwan Ali Rahman jinxed past two players outside the box but shot wide off the post.
Mohammad Esmendy Brahim should have done better seconds later, watching his shot easily saved by QAF FC's Mohd Sahan Mumtazali.
The other match of the day saw Indera FC beat AH United 2-1 at the Berakas Sports Complex.
Ex-MS ABDB player Khayrun Salleh took only seven minutes to hand Indera the lead, with Md Shah Johan Hj Shari doubling the team's advantage three minutes before the break.
Md Nazirul Nazreen Abdullah scored AH United's only goal in the 62nd minute.
Though he netted both of the defending champions' goals at the Balapan Track & Field, Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas, the Cameroonian midfielder was quick to deflect any individual praise.
A free-kick from Ak Md Kamarul Ariffin Pg Ramlee in the 92nd minute was met by Bayong, who also opened the scoring for QAF FC in the 27th minute when he tapped in a header from Md Aqmal Hakeem Abd Hamid.
"I thank the team for playing well ... All the guys did a great job today (Monday)," said Bayong.
"It is not only about Viban, we won because the team played well. Did you see that cross? If it wasn't for him (Ak Md Kamarul Ariffin) we would not have won," he added.
With the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) leading the 10-team table by a point prior to the game, Bayong acknowledged how crucial last night's win was.
"It was a league game and we needed the points to stay at the top of the table. We need to be at the top!" he emphasised to the Press.
League leaders QAF FC now have 12 points, two more than arch-rivals MS ABDB.
The stocky midfielder could have netted inside the first five minutes, but his shot from outside the box was tapped out for a corner-kick by Abdul Hafiz Hj Mursadi in between the Jerudong posts.
QAF FC striker Adie Arsham Muhd Salleh was next to test the goalkeeper, going on a mazy run which evaded three defenders but watching his shot from point-blank saved by Abdul Hafiz.
Enddy Soehardy Awg Sapar equalised for Jerudong in what was their first real chance of the game in the 31st minute, finishing off a deft one-two inside the box with Sufri Mohaimin to skirt a normally water-tight QAF FC backline.
Md Aqmal Hakeem scuffed a chance to score five minutes before the break during a counter-attack with only Abdul Hafiz to beat, but he miskicked a cross from Adie Arsham.
QAF FC were penned in their own box during the last minute of the first half, unable to clear the ball with Jerudong pressuring every player.
The second period was marked by the lack of quality passes by both teams, and chances were few and far between.
Sufri had a chance to score Jerudong's second during a counter-attack on the hour mark but his cross-goal shot was just wide of the left post though he might have been better advised to pick out Enddy Soehardy who was waiting unmarked inside the box.
Adie Arsham's pin-point cross to Bayong inside the penalty area was met with a header which was saved by Abdul Hafiz in the 80th minute, which must have prompted Jerudong's risky decision to use all their substitutes minutes later.
It nearly paid off when Mohd Azwan Ali Rahman jinxed past two players outside the box but shot wide off the post.
Mohammad Esmendy Brahim should have done better seconds later, watching his shot easily saved by QAF FC's Mohd Sahan Mumtazali.
The other match of the day saw Indera FC beat AH United 2-1 at the Berakas Sports Complex.
Ex-MS ABDB player Khayrun Salleh took only seven minutes to hand Indera the lead, with Md Shah Johan Hj Shari doubling the team's advantage three minutes before the break.
Md Nazirul Nazreen Abdullah scored AH United's only goal in the 62nd minute.
