Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TEN-MAN Kota Ranger left it till late to edge MS PPDB 2-1 to be crowned champions of the DST FA Cup last night.
Having to play the final half an hour with a man down, Muhd Asyraffahmi Norsam connected on a freekick from the right a minute from time to lift Kota Ranger to the title at the Balapan Track and FIeld of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
Kota Ranger had taken the lead after Mohd Amalul Ariffin Shah Said got at the end of an Abdul Azim Abdul Rahman freekick into the box in the 36th minute.
They were on target again just before the halftime whistle but captain Muhd Afi Aminuddin’s shot was caught by MS PPDB skipper and goalkeeper Pg Muhd Muizzuddin.
MS PPDB drew level just 11 minutes into the second half after good work by Amir Bujang to get past Azim before launching a good strike past Azman Ilham Noor.
To make matters worse, Kota Ranger were reduced to 10 men after Esmendy Brahim was sent off for dissent right after.
MS PPDB came close to taking the lead just a few minutes later but the attempt came off the woodwork.
With the numerical disadvantage, Kota Ranger were relying on the counter attack and it paid off late on.
MS PPDB, who ended as runners-up for the second consecutive year, eventually also finished with 10 men after Amir was sent off for a second yellow card late into stoppage time.
