ASC2012 QUALIFIERS: Brunei Stun Timor Leste To Allow Laos To Claim Final Round Spot

YANGON (13 Oct 2012) – Brunei and Laos are now the best of friends. This was after Brunei defied the pre-match odds to sensationally defeat Timor Leste and pave the way for Laos to dramatically claim the second qualifying spot in the AFF Suzuki Cup Final Round.

Timor Leste only needed a draw to advance but were unable to recreate the form of their previous matches and ended up being beaten 2-1 by a highly spirited Brunei side.

Thanks to Brunei’s unexpected victory, Laos crept into the final round by finishing second in the standings with seven points while Myanmar topped out with 10 points. Timor completed their fixtures third with six points. Brunei, who had beaten Cambodia in an earlier game, were fourth with six points.

“This is why I love football. There will always be surprises,” said Emerson Alcantara, the chief coach of Timor Leste. “Even though we did not make the next round, I’m happy with the commitment of the players. They played as a family.”

Starting without their key striker Murilo Almeida affected Timor more than they had expected. His nifty work in front had played a big part in Timor’s earlier wins over Cambodia and Laos. In his absence, Emilio Da Silva and the lanky Alam Pinheiro were expected to deliver the goals but the duo fell short of expectations.

Brunei, to their credit, took the fight to their bigger opponents and surprised with the opening goal through Adi Said in the 16^th minute. They missed several clear shots before Muhd Azwan Ali Rahman doubled the score in the 76^th minute.

“It was a good exciting game and we had planned well to beat Timor,” added Kwan Oh Son, the chief coach of Brunei. “It was a job well done.”

The second goal really shook up the Timorese players and they began to really fight back. Their efforts paid off three minutes later through Jesse Pinto. Timor tried but the closest they got was when Alan rocked the crossbar off a freekick a minute from time.

In tonight’s match, Timor Leste were expected to go hunting for early goals and that’s exactly what they did. Strikers Alan, Emilio and Diogo Rangel rushed forward as soon as the whistle went. And it was not long before they started taking shots. It almost came through in the 13^th minute when Diogo stormed into the box but shot just wide.

Timor Leste were left bewildered three minutes later when against the run of play, Brunei smashed in the opener of the match. Adi Said raced away towards the box, beat a defender and drilled it into goal. The bench were on their feet celebrating the stunning opener.

Timor pressed on and had a few close calls from Alan at the top but failed to make it through.

After the break, Timor continued the hunt but were unable to get their shots on the mark. Brunei started to step up the pace and had a few serious cracks at goal. Then in the 76^thminute, Muhd Azwan broke past his marker and tapped the ball past a diving Emerson Cesar.

Timor intensified their efforts as Brunei drew back to try and defend their lead which they did for three minutes when Jesse pulled a goal back. In the stands, the Laos players who stayed back were constantly cheering Brunei, something they probably never did before. And at the end of a stunning game, the Laos players were thanking Brunei and celebrating their place in the Final Round.

Laos will be in Group B along with hosts Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

The Line-up

BRUNEI: Muhd Wardun Yusof (GK), Muhd Afi Aminuddin, Muhd Azwan Ali Rahman (Md Nur Ikhwan, 84^th), Muhd Azwan Muhd Salleh, Md Najip Tarif, Rosmin Muhd Kamis (cpt) – (Md Hendra Azam Md Idris, 79^th), Muhd Helmi Zambin, Mohd Haizul Rani Metusin, Affendy Akup, Adi Said, Awangku Muhd Fakharazzi Pengiran Hassan (Md Aminuddin Zakwan Tahir (71^st)

Head coach: Kwon Oh Son (S.Kor)

Scorers: Adi Said (16^th), Muhd Azwan Ali Rahman (76^th)

Yellow: Muhd Wardun (38^th)

Red:

Injured: Sairol Sahari, Mohd Shahrazen Said

TIMOR LESTE: Emerson Cesario (GK), Raul Isac (cpt), Ramon Saro, Wellinto Santos, Psulo Ribeiro (Chiquito Carmo 69^th), Emilio Da Silva, Jesse Pinto, Alan Pinheiro, Diogo Rangel (Olegario Pereira 87^th), Adelino Oliveira (Jose Vide 46^th), Anggisu Barbosa

Head coach: Emerson Alcantara (Tim)

Scorers: Jesse Pinto (79^th)

Yellow: Emilio Da Silva (25^th), Diogo Rangel (87^th), Emerson Carlos (90^th), Raul Isac (90^th), Wellinto Santos (90^th)

Red:

Suspended: Murilo Almeida

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Takayama Hiroyoshi (Jpn)

Assistant Referee 1: Ameez Ahmed (Mdv)

Assistant Referee 2: Anaam Ahmed Qiad Saif (Yem)

Fourth Official: Aslam Ahmed (Mdv)

Match Commissioner: Lt Col Kamaruddin Sakhari (Mas)

Referee Assessor: Russamee Jindamai (Tha)

General Coordinator: Demis A. Djamaoeddin (Ina)

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2012

Qualifying Round

– Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Timor Leste

*Date*	*Match*			*Time*	*Venue*	*Result*
5-Oct	*CAMBODIA*	Vs	*TIMOR LESTE*	1500	Youth Training Centre	1 – 5
5-Oct	*MYANMAR*	Vs	*BRUNEI*	1800	Youth Training Centre	*1 – 0*
7-Oct	*TIMOR LESTE*	vs	*MYANMAR*	1500	Youth Training Centre	1 – 2
7-Oct	*LAOS*	vs	*CAMBODIA*	1800	Youth Training Centre	1 – 0
9-Oct	*CAMBODIA*	vs	*BRUNEI*	1500	Youth Training	*2 – 3*
9-Oct	*TIMOR LESTE*	vs	*LAOS*	1800	Centre	3 – 1
11-Oct	*BRUNEI*	vs	*LAOS*	1500	Youth Training	*1 – 3*
11-Oct	*MYANMAR*	vs	*CAMBODIA*	1800	Centre	*3 – 0*
13-Oct	*LAOS*	vs	*MYANMAR*	1500	Youth Training	0 – 0
13-Oct	*BRUNEI*	vs	*TIMOR LESTE*	1800	Centre	2 – 1