Brunei Fight Back To Draw
By Dannie Abu Basrah

Bandar Seri Begawan - A spirited Brunei performance saw the QAF FC team took a point from Cambodia in the 2006 Asean Football Federation qualifier after Hardi Bujang scored at the death for a 1-1 draw at Bacolod City in the Philippines last night.

The Cambodians settled early in the game bombarding the Brunei goal with several dangerous attempts, but goalie Md Sahan Mumtaz Ali produced several spectacular saves to deny Cambodia the goal.

Hem Samchay, Cambodia's team captain came close with a long shot that missed the target by a whisker on the 13th minute. The Brunei defence were made to work hard in the early stages and coped well with the challenge to prevent from giving the opponents a crucial lead.

Brunei's first chance came on the 18"h minute with skipper Riwandi Wahit latching on to an Adie Arsham through ball but wasted the opportunity with a weak shot aimed straight at the goalie as the striker was once again off target on the 3151 heading over the bar from inside the box.

Adie Arsham too had a shot at goal that deflected inches wide from goal but the closest for Brunei was on the 4lst as Ak Mohd Kamarul Ariffin's 20 yards volley rattled the woodwork as the game was still tied goalless at half time.

Both teams were still battling hard' in the second half with hard tackles flying all over with the game concentrated in midfield. Adie-Arsham was presented with a good chance to break the deadlock on the 70th minute, put through on a one-on-one with the goalie but failing to beat the shot stopper in the process, as his shot was brilliantly blocked.

Cambodia's pressure on the Brunei goal finally paid off on the 79th minute as Samel Nasa headed a Chan Rithy's cross beating the Brunei goalie who was superb all night.

Stunned by the goal, Brunei made a few changes and stepped up the tempo which- resulted in Om Thavrak sending off for conceding a second yellow, as a result of a reckless challenge on Mardi Bujang.

With less than 10 minutes to go, Brunei pushed forward desperately in search for the equaliser with Christopher Ambun's header rolling past the goal by only a few inches.

Brunei finall-y got their deserved equaliser at the death after Hardi Bujang blasted into goalreaching on to substitute Samat Hj Sibau's low cross.

Meanwhile in the early match, Laos defeated Timor Leste 3-2 to stay top of the table with seven points.

Laos took a two-goal lead through Sounthalay Xaysongkham and Vilasack Phothilath before Timor Leste hit back through Antonio M A Ximenes and Adelio Maroa

Da-Costa who scored the equaliser in injury time.

But it was .not to be Timor Leste's first point of the tournament after Laos's Saynakhonevieng Phommapanya managed to score the winner in their final attempt, also in injury time to end the match 3-2. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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