Caption: Brunei players celebrate scoring against Thailand last night. Picture: Infofoto
Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
THE national under-21 team pulled off an incredible last minute 2-1 win against two-time champions Thailand in the group A of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT) last night.
The triumph puts Brunei in contention for a semi-finals berth where they will need to beat Myanmar in their final group game on Monday.
Ak Yura Indera Putra Pg Yunos scored the injury time winner for the country after Naziruddin Hj Ismail's opener was cancelled out by Paso Sittichok at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Razimie Ramlli (L) and Faiq Bolkiah combined well upfront. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Brunei got off to a strong start with striker Razimie Ramlli combining well with captain Faiq Jefri Bolkiah in the attack.
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) striker adjusted well in his first start in the competition, coming very close to scoring early in the first-half with a header that went just inches wide.
Faiq played a significant role in the victory with his dribbling prowess pulling the defenders out of their positions, holding them off to deliver deadly crosses into the box.
The captain picked Razimie at the far corner for a free header, but the latter could not find a way past Thailand's goalkeeper Suadsong Supanut, who had a very busy night.
Thailand's Kinnonkok Kitti replied with a shot just outside of Brunei's penalty area but Isyhra Asmin Jabidi stood tall to protect the goal.
Faiq Bolkiah (R) did well to draw multiple defenders before . Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Head coach Mario Rivera Campesino might have found a solution in central midfield with the partnership of Mohd Nurikhmal Damit and Salleh Abdul Salam Emzah, who worked tirelessly on and off the ball pressing forward.
Brunei were rock solid in defence too with Ak Yura marshalling the backline as they limited Thailand to only few shots in the first-half.
The young Wasps came out with more confidence in the second-half and Faiq was once again on target with his clever run picking Haziq Kasyful Azim unmarked at the near post, but the defender could not get his shot on target squandering the ball wide.
Razimie had a golden opportunity to put Brunei ahead just a minute later when he was set through inside the penalty area but Suadsong bravely came off his line to clear the danger.
Amin Sisa (R) passes the ball. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Faiq delivered a perfect low cross for Razimie from the left for a simple tap in but the striker was just a split-second too late from getting a touch on the ball.
Brunei's hard work eventually paid off in the 71st minute with Faiq engineering the move picking Naziruddin open with only the goalkeeper to beat.
The Leicester City reserves player was just simply too clever for the Thai defenders, drawing three towards him before unselfishly releasing the ball for Naziruddin to fire a powerful low shot into the bottom corner.
However, Thailand leveled just six minutes later through Paso Sittichok he caught Brunei defenders napping by slamming the ball home from close range following a clever one-two pass from a free-kick just outside the penalty box.
Paso Sittichok (L) equalised for Thailand from a well worked free-kick minutes after Brunei's opener. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Muhammad Azim Izamuddin made an immediate impact upon his introduction by making a strong run down the left flank before firing his shot meant for the top corner but Suadsong parried the ball away for a corner kick.
Brunei threw their players forward and it paid off after Muhammad Azim picked out his DPMM FC teammate Ak Yura, who sneakily got behind defender Yaemsaen Santipap, off the ensuing corner to nudge the ball home sending over the 25,000 capacity crowd into a frenzy.
The other match at the Balapan Track and Field saw Myanmar defeated Timor Leste 2-0.
