Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BRUNEI defeated Macau 3-0 in the first leg of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia playoff tie on Friday.
Hakeme Said gave the hosts the lead in the first half before Mohammad Nazry Aiman and Abdul Hariz Herman added two more after the break at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Hakeme broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark after rising the highest to connect on a cross from the left.
His header was initially denied by the crossbar but he pounced on the rebound to bulge the net and give Brunei the lead.
Macau had a shot on target close to the break but skipper Chan Man fired straight at Haimie Nyaring in between the Brunei sticks.
The hosts got the ball in the net right after the interval but was flagged for offside.
It was in the 56th minute where they doubled their advantage off a corner.
Hakeme's set piece was put back into the middle by Ak Yura Indera Putera Pg Yunos for Nazry to fire home.
Brunei added another just five minutes later after skipper Azwan Ali Rahman won possession from pressing at the back.
He then placed it for a trailing Hariz to put the ball past Macau custodian Ho Man Fai.
The Wasps are enjoying a good spell with three consecutive cleansheets on home soil.
The second leg will be contested at the Macau Olympic Stadium on Sept 10.
