Brunei out despite victory
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei fought back courageously from a goal down to grab an impressive 3-1 win against Singapore yesterday afternoon at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium but still failed to qualify for the semi-final of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy for Under 21 ASEAN Youth Football Championship 2005 due to goal difference.

Needing a six-goal cushion to book a spot in the semis, Brunei was on the offensive in the early minutes and they almost got an opening goal from No. 5 Hardi Anak Bujang when his headed shot sailed wide across the goal post.

With only pride of the Lion City to play for, Singapore started to dominate the midfield and took control of the game. In the 19th minute, Singapore took the lead through a header by Singapore's Mohammad Helmi Mohd which beat Brunei goalkeeper, Azman Ilham bin Haji Md Noor

Brunei were rocked and could not find the rhythm that saw them beat Laos 1-0 in the opening game last week. They only improved at the end of the first half.

The match took a dramatic turn in the second half when Singapore No. 12 Yusiskandar Yusop was given his marching orders by Thai referee Roongsang Tossom in the 64th minute after he received his second yellow card of the match.

With that advantage, Brunei staged a brilliant comeback in the middle of the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser when Hj Khairol Anwar Hj Md Yaakub headed in the ball from a corner kick in the 65th minute.

The goal from Hj Khairol Anwar kick-started a fiery attack from Brunei and with only ten men, Singapore's defence was looking vulnerable.

Opening up the Singaporean defence Brunei went ahead with two goals coming from Brunei's No.5 Hardi Anak Bujang who blasted a powerful close range strike into the net in the 75th minute and headed in another goal in the 78th minute.

Brunei then pushed on in search of more goals hoping to secure the semi-final spot.

However the game was marked by a number of scuffles between several of the opposing players in the dying minutes. As a result, Brunei's Hardi Anak Bujang and Hj Khairol Anwar, the scorers of Brunei's goals, were red carded together with Singapore's Muhammad Salim Rahim.

Singapore coach Lim Lee Huat was unsatisfied with the refereeing, and after the match he claimed that the referee had wrongfully booked the No.12 Singapore player for the first yellow card as it was supposed to be for Singapore's No. 10 player.

In the post-match press conference, Brunei team manager Pengiran Haji Mohd Yusof bin Pg Hj Bahar said that Brunei didn't play well in the first half but did the nation proud in the second half.

He added that Brunei could only settle for a win against Singapore but lost out on goal difference to Laos in the end.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin