| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI under-23 national team ended their stint in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 qualifiers without a victory to their name after losing 4-1 to Singapore in Group ‘F’ at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar yesterday.
The youthful Wasps scored their first goal after three games in the competition but could not secure the point they needed to finish third of the group.
Meanwhile, it was a first victory for Singapore in the competition after starting the campaign with successive defeats to Myanmar and Australia.
Singapore under-23 forward Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad impressed in the game with a brace in either side of the half.
Mohamad Hanafi bin Mohd Akbar and Taufik Suparno also netted for the youthful Lions while Brunei’s scant consolation came from DPMM FC young starlet Azim Izamuddin bin Haji Suhaimi on the brink of half-time.
Brunei under-23s midfielder Mohd Asnawi Syazni was not ineligible to play after serving his suspension while Singapore had four players out due to ineligibility including Irfan Fandi.
“I’m very disappointed with our performance and results. But we’ll rectify our weaknesses. And we will be back with a better performance in the SEA Games,” Brunei under-23 national head coach Kwon Oh-Son was quoted as saying by AFC website.
“In this competition, I was testing my players. I will make some changes for the SEA Games,” the coach said.
The under-23 national team lost 2-0 in their opening game against Australia which saw goalkeeper Haimie Anak Nyaring receiving plaudits from the Socceroos head coach.
They lost 3-0 to Myanmar in the second game in what was a dress rehearsal ahead of their next meeting in the SEA Games next month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Brunei under-23s will also have a second round to look forward to against the Lions in Group ‘A’ in the SEA Games.
The under-23 national team will now shift their focus to the SEA Games in less than a month’s time.
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