The Al-Idrus Junior football team
celebrate winning the inaugural
edition of the National Football
Association of Brunei Darussalam
TelBru Youth Under-16 National
Football League last night.
Picture: BT/ Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
Mohd Asri Hj Apar's extra-time goal helped Al-Idrus Junior win the inaugural edition of the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) TelBru Youth Under-16 National Football League last night.
It was a fitting end to the season with the victors having to fight tooth and nail to narrowly pull out the 3-2 win over Muara Vella Academy at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
"With how we played tonight, I think we deserved to win the title. I am very proud of the players," said Al-Idrus's manager Mansor Hj Yassin in an interview with The Brunei Times after the match.
The final between the two unbeaten teams proved its worth in the fast and furious opening half.
Al-Idrus were the first to create a proper goal scoring opportunity when Mohd Asri fired a free-kick just wide.
Teammate Kane Moran came closest to scoring when his short range header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Muara Vella goalkeeper Mohammad Burhanuddin Hj Edy Amady.
Muara Vella also had their share of chances.
Ak Abdul Hafiz Pg Zahari combined with Abd Azim Abd Rashid to set up Abdul Khair Hj Basri but his 35th minite shot flew just wide of the goal.
They would find the net five minutes later when Mohd Asnawi Syazni Abd Aziz headed home Muhd Nur Hafiz Hj Hamidi cross from the right.
Muara Vella's tempo slowed down at the start of the second-half and Al-Idrus looked to be the better team with their intense offence.
Their aggresiveness would pay off in the 49th minute when Hj Mohd Zainol Ariffin rose above Muara Vella defenders to head the ball into the net.
Moran should have put Al-Idrus ahead a few minutes later when he was set up by Mohd Asri from the right, only to have his glancing header fly wide.
Moran made no mistake the second time round when he converted another Mohd Asri cross to give Al-Idrus their first lead in the game.
Muara Vella responded immediately when Abdul Khair found Suhaimi Sulau near the post to level the score to 2-2.
Mohd Asri would score the winning goal three minutes before the end of extra time when his free-kick deflected off a Muara Vella defender before finding the back of the net.
Present as the guest of honour to award the winners with the trophy, medals and cash prizes was the Chief Marketing Officer of Telbru, Lim Ming Soon.
