National striker Adi Said (R)
scored one goal and created the
other in last night's match against
the Philippines at the 26th SEA
Games in Jakarta.Picture: BT

Brunei finally picked up their first win at the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games football competition here, a 2-1 come from behind result against the Philippines last night.

Finishing above the Philippines in Group B, the victory will help ease the pain of their unforgiving 8-0 loss to 2009 runners-up Vietnam on Saturday a result which ended any hopes of a semi-final berth.

Last night's win means they finish above the Philippines in the six-team group with four points from five games.

The Philippines' only points came from a 3-2 win over Laos on Friday.

Centre-back Reduan Petara was the team's hero at the Lebak Bulus Stadium last night after netting the winning goal in the 42nd minute, but a lot of the credit must also go to Adi Said.

The team's only real striker after suspensions to Hamizan Aziz Sulaiman and Mohamad Nazirul Nazreen Abdullah ruled them out of yesterday's game, Adi equalised for the team in the 17th minute after Joshua Beloya had given the Filipinos a ninth minute lead.

Adi also provided the assist for the winner.

Unlike in previous matches, where an early goal saw the team dismantle, last night's game proved Brunei are made of tougher stuff.

And with coach Dayem Hj Ali emphasising that pride was on the line, the players rose to the challenge.

The Asean Football Federation reported that Beloya ran in from the left and beat goalkeeper Ak Omar Nur Aqammadin Pg Hj Sallehuddin, but Adi who ends the competition as the team's top scorer with three goals drew level after shooting past two defenders.

His free kick right at the edge of the Philippines box saw Reduan first to the ball three minutes from the break, and they would take a 2-1 lead into the second half.

Brunei had a golden chance to make it 3-1 in the 55th minute but midfielder Ak Mohammad Fakharrazi Pg Hj Hassan's attempt was off the mark.

The closest the Philippines got to pulling level was through Jeffrey Christaens in the 75th minute, but Ak Omar Nur Aqammadin came out on top.

Making their return to the Under-23 competition after 10 years, Brunei started the tournament brightly by taking a lead they would relinquish to Timor Leste in their opener on Nov 5, which they lost 2-1.

Though they were down to 10 men 15 minutes into their game against Laos two days later, they managed to take a 2-1 lead but tired legs would see them let in an equaliser. Adi scored both of Brunei's goals.

A 4-0 loss to Myanmar last Wednesday meant they had to win against Vietnam to keep alive any chances of progressing to Saturday's last four, but after letting in four goals in the first 15 minutes, those slim hopes vanished.

Courtesy from Brunei Times