| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam threw away a three-goal cushion to lose 8-6 to a reinvigorated Timor Leste side which saw dented their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand, last night.
The Wasps were leading 6-3 at one stage but they cracked under pressure despite the clinical finishing earlier on the game.
Brunei started the brighter of the two sides after Naqib Timbang slotted home the opener before Faiz Hasnan doubled their lead just a minute later.
The national futsal team were in dreamland as Norazizam Roslan made it 3-0 to heighten their chances for their first semi-final appearance since 2008.
Timor Leste showed initial signs of recovery when Jose Vide struck in the 9th minute before Remigio Duarte Lopes da Silva put his side back in the contest with a 15th minute strike.
The Timor Leste players celebrate while the Brunei side looks dejected after the 8-6 loss in the AFF Futsal Championship.
Naqib scored his second goal of the game before Timor Leste made sure they only trailed by a single goal.
The Wasps pulled some distance when Azim Bolhasan made it 5-3 in the 21st minute before team captain Maziri Maidin added his team’s sixth a minute later.
The national team had chances to put daylight between them but heavy touches prevented them to cause more mayhem.
Then, Timor Leste, who received an 11-2 drubbing at the hands of overwhelming favourites Thailand, mounted a comeback with Manuel Sa Sarmento finding the target in the 22nd minute and Remigio making the affair within reach again.
Sarmento sensationally levelled the scores for the Little Samba Nation before Kui Sen Mu gave his side the lead for the first time in the encounter six minutes from time.
With Brunei’s deputising goalkeeper committed as an outfield player, Remigio was provided the simplest of tasks to slot home with the goal gaping and completed his hat-trick.
The Timor Leste bench erupted to ecstasy, understandably so, which should be enough to seal their passage to the last four despite completing their group matches while the Brunei camp were left to reflect what it could have been.
The Wasps are not eliminated yet but they knew that they have blown their biggest opportunity to equal their best record in the competition after the Timor Leste disappointment.
The national team face an unlikely task of beating the 11-time winners by three clear goals to go through as runners-up by goal difference with Thailand heavy favourites in their final match.
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