Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BRUNEI head coach Mario Rivera Campesino laid into his side for what he described as a ‘nervous’ first-half performance in their 1-0 defeat to Timor Leste last night.
Jose Maria Dos Reis' penalty in the 19th minute was enough to give Timor Leste the vital three points in group A of the 2018 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy, and Campesino lamented the way his charges approached the opener infront of the home crowd at the Hassanal Bolkiah National in Berakas.
"I think that in the first-half our players were very nervous. We made some mistakes. We were better in the second-half but Timor Leste are a very good team and it was hard for us to have (create) an opportunity," said Campesino in the post match interview.
"We need to be more precise in front and subtly good with the ball. We didn't complete most of our passes and it is normal as the players never played with the full people (team)," he added.
Brunei head coach Mario Rivera Campesino. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Campesino also hailed the home fans for their support throughout the match, and the Spanish felt that it was the team's responsibility to make things happen on the pitch.
"The fans were supporting us when we got close to score a couple of times in the match but we needed to be more precise and accurate in getting the ball into the box," said Campesino.
The Wasps' best chance in the game was in the 26th minute when Naziruddin Hj Ismail picked captain Faiq Jefri Bolkiah at the far corner for a free header, but the striker's effort was heroically cleared off the line by Timor Leste's defender Gumario Augusto Fernandes.
Faiq was also on target a few minutes earlier coming close with a half volley as Brunei were looking for an equaliser after referee Ahamad Yacoub from Jordan awarded a penalty to Timor Leste for a foul commited by Hanif Aiman Adanan inside the area.
Faiq Bolkiah (R) had two chances cleared off the line in the opening half. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Silveiro Da Rusureicao and Henrique Wilson Da Cruz were constant threats for the Brunei defence throughout but goalkeeper Ishyra Asmin Jabidi, who had a busy night, deserve credit for coming off his line a couple of times to make brave clashes.
Nidio Ricardo Ferreira Alves bossed the midfield with his superior physical presence and technique and linked well with the duo of Da Cruz and Da Rusureicao creating chances for Timor Leste.
Ikhmal Damit was introduced eight minutes after the restart replacing midfielder Azim Suhaimi, meanwhile, another direct swap saw Muhammad Razimie Ramlli come on for Hanif Aiman just a few minutes later.
Razimie Ramlli (R) gave Brunei a different attacking dynamic after coming on in the second half. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Rufino Walter Gama, who played in the previous HBT, caught Brunei defenders napping at the hour mark to beat Brunei's defence line to latch onto the long ball.
The midfielder had already defeated a helpless Ishyra in goal with a beautiful lob but the ball went just inches over the bar.
Muhammad Razimie's dynamic runs offered Brunei a different dimension on the attack, but they couldn't find a way past Timor Leste, who desperately defended for the important three points.
