| Fadhil Yunus |
KASUKA FC lost ground in the race for the DST Super League title after they were held to a goalless stalemate by Kota Ranger FC at the Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex last night.
Title rivals Kasuka cut MS ABDB’s lead to six points but the defending champions can widen the gap to nine points with victory over MS PDB in the uniformed derby tonight.
Kasuka FC weathered the early storm as Kota Ranger looked to spoil their plans of piling pressure to league leaders MS ABDB in the first half but a breakthrough was still a requirement.
Kota Ranger were the last team who challenged the current holders for the title but eventually fell short after their draw to Tabuan Muda in the penultimate game of last season meant that it was not mathematically realistic to catch them.
Fast forward to this season, Kasuka looked to fill in Kota Ranger’s shoes with victory putting them four points behind the army personnel.
Kota Ranger started the game the brighter of the two sides as Muhd Abu Bakar bin Haji Mahari expertly skipped his marker before unleashing a drive which was well handled by Kasuka goalkeeper Mohd Ishyra Asmin Md Jabidi.
Their forward line nearly had a clear sight on goal but Muhd Hafis bin Haji Mahari overlooked his pass which was intended for Khalil bin Saab. Nevertheless, Khalil grabbed hold of the ball and forced a smart stop by Mohd Ishyra for a corner.
Kota Ranger’s forward Muhd Fathurrahman bin Embran did have the ball at the back of the net but the whistle had long been blown for an apparent offside.
Kasuka showed promise when Md Mardi Mirza bin Abdullah Bujang released a clever pass to Afindi Yati bin Tuah but the Kota Ranger defence snuffed out the danger.
Afindi Yati was through on goal for Kasuka but Kota Ranger’s Md Syarafuddin Hamdi bin Haji Talip came to his team’s rescue with a well-timed clearance.
The Kasuka attacker proved a handful with his strength and the goalkeeper was off his line when he squared the ball into the middle which was hacked away by the alert defence.
The experienced forward was responsible in the last three of his team’s set-pieces as opponents got excited with the challenges.
Kasuka ended the first half as the likelier side to break the deadlock as Reduan bin Petara’s successive goal-bound efforts were blocked by Md Syarafuddin Hamdi and Mohd Khalid Wassadi Salleh bin Haji Mahmud on separate occasions.