Football team fail at first hurdle

THE national football team now have only pride left to play for after losing both of their group stage matches in the 12th edition of the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Terengganu.

Their 1-0 loss to Johor on Wednesday night meant that last night's match against Penang at the Gong Badok Sports Complex was one they had to win if they were to have any hopes of making it into the second round.

However, their 1-0 defeat after an injury-time strike by Mohd Noraslan Md Mokhtar meant that the Bruneians had only pride at stake in their last Group D match against Sarawak tomorrow.

Introduced into the game in the 90th minute, Mohd Noraslan had an immediate impact on the match after heading home a cross from the right which the Bruneian defence was unable to clear to safety.

Though the Bruneians were in control for most of the match, according to striker Shahrazen Hj Md Said, their poor finishing means that they will be returning home earlier than expected after failing to score in both games played.

"It was virtually the last attack of the match," said Shahrazen in a phone interview yesterday.

"We controlled the game from the first minute but we just could not score though we created numerous chances," added the DPMM FC striker.

Playing up front last night as opposed to in midfield during Wednesday's game, Shahrazen was disappointed not to have found the back of the net.

"I feel pretty down but I guess it is alright. Luck just was not on our side but we will give it our all against Sarawak," said the 22-year-old hitman, who will be returning with the rest of the team on Monday.

For head coach Kwon Oh Son, it will be anything but a happy return after earlier stating that his target was for the team to reach the final.

Finishing fourth in the 2006 edition of the biennial tournament in Kedah after losing to Negri Sembilan in the battle for third, the national team failed to make it past the first round in 2004 as well.

The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, which will be contested on Tuesday, with Johor and Penang already having earned their berth from Group D since Sarawak have also lost both matches.

Johor beat Sarawak 2-1 at the Gong Badak Sports Complex last night.

Selangor and Kedah became the first two teams to qualify for the last eight after registering their second successive win in Group B last night.

The Brunei Times