Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
KOTA Ranger maintained their perfect start in the Brunei Super League after sweeping aside BAKES FC 9-1 on Sunday.
BAKES was on the ascendency early in the game but could only provide one shot on target.
Skipper Hanafizal Helman struck a freekick on targetin the 22nd minute but was tipped over by Azman Ilham Noor in between the Kota Ranger sticks.
They gave a penalty away two minutes which took the wind out of their sails at Balapan Track and Field in Berakas.
Hazmi Salleh had broken through before he was brought down just inside the box by Ederic Ah Chua.
Abiodun Babatunde then made no mistake from the ensuing spot kick to give Kota Ranger the lead.
Ron Junior Philip had a busy day and produced back-to-back saves moments later.
The BAKES goalkeeper kept out Afiq Roslan's powerful shot from the edge of the box and followed that by denying Faturrahman Embran's effort from close range.
Kota Ranger doubled their lead just before the half hour mark.
Philip had denied Faturrahman but the ball fell onto path of Hazmi to slot home from close range.
Kota Ranger scored their third with Faturrahman doing all the work to get into the box before cutting back for Suffian Adanan to shoot.
BAKES grabbed one back from the spot through their skipper two minutes before the break.
Kota Ranger responded immediately at the restart as Faturrahman outpaced the BAKES backline to score.
Babatunde bagged his second late into first half stoppage time after rounding Philip to put the ball into the empty net for a 5-1 halftime lead.
Adi Said, who came on at the start of the second half, had two attempts saved on the hour mark.
Kota Ranger made it 5-1 after a shot was cleared by a BAKES defender but only onto the upright and the rebound was fired home by Faturrahman.
Their seventh goal came from a throw-in their own half before a long ball for Adi to chase to beat Philip in a one-on-one situation
Faturrahman and Babatunde then added a goal each late on for their hat-tricks to complete their rout.
