| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI’S preparations for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship qualifiers took a severe blow following a 2-0 friendly defeat in the first of a double header against Malaysia Under-22 at the Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Paroi, Negeri Sembilan last night.
Azizi Ali Rahman raced clear on goal but his heavy touch allowed the hosts’ goalkeeper Amirul Hakimi Awang to retrieve the ball though he could not keep the ball in for the first corner of the game in favour of Brunei.
Malaysia Under-22 defender Dominic Tan skewed his shot wide which inadvertently found its way to Thanabalan whose snapshot hit DPMM FC goalkeeping custodian Wardun Yussof straight in the face.
Muhammad Syahmi Safari delivered a fine ball which Jafri Muhammad Firdaus saw his looping header ended wide.
Brunei’s striker Shahrazen Said collected a lofted ball and deceived Dominic with a shot but clattered into Amirul Hakimi in a 50-50 tackle though the referee perceived as a dangerous offence and brandished the DPMM FC man a yellow card.
Brunei delivered a poor corner but Malaysia Under-22 defender Mohamad Amirul Hisyam did not do his side any favours with a weak clearance allowing Rosmin Kamis to have a crack from range which flew wide.
The Wasps switched off at the back as a misunderstanding from Fakharazzi Hassan and Wardun, who was winning his 16th cap for the national side, allowed the advancing Zarulizwan Mazlan a sight in goal though his half chance on full stretch ended wide.
Azizi Abdul Rahman was substituted in the 32nd minute for his MS ABDB team-mate Razimie Ramli who won his first cap for his country while Yura Indera Putera was taken off for Khairil Shahme Suhaimi who played in the SEA Games in Singapore last year.
Maududi Hilmi Kasmi burst clear and produced a solo effort which flew comfortably wide before Shahrazen got his side their first shot on target after attempting to beat Amirul in the near post.
Shahrazen applied enough power on his header which glanced wide from an Azwan Salleh’s free-kick.
Brunei were rescued from a goal-line clearance after tidy passing in the box from the resurgent hosts who seemed to come into thrust in the second half.
Malaysia Under-22 broke the deadlock in the 74th minute after Syafiq Ahmad nodded home a fine cross.
Syafiq, who found the net in the 3-0 win against their Singapore counterparts, connected with a header but Wardun pulled a spectacular save to tip the ball away to safety.
However, Syafiq found the net with a deadly header inside the box in the 83rd minute after Brunei failed to get hold of a set-piece.
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