Fadhil Yunus
The Brunei Darussalam under-23 national team fell to a 2-1 defeat to the Philippines in their final Group ‘A’ game of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-23 Championship at the Prince Stadium yesterday.
National under-23 forward Mohammad Hakeme Yazid bin Said scored his second international goal at under-23 level.
With two minutes of the clock barely lapsed, Philippines got a sniff on goal as Brunei goalkeeper Abdul Mutalip bin Haji Mohammad tipped away a shot from Gyles Lucas Pera Encabo to safety.
The defender had cleverly turned past his marker after receiving a cross from team captain Oskari Johannes Orevillo Kekkonen.
Brunei registered a shot on target in the opening ten minutes as a shot from Hakeme Yazid was saved by Philippines goalkeeper Enrico Marquell Alanon Mangaoang.
The rising star showed flashes of brilliance after evading the challenge of a Filipino defender and struck his shot wide.
Moments later, Mohammad Hanif Aiman bin Haji Adanan let a good drive fly on target but the ball was at a good height for Alanon Mangaoang to make a save.
The Young Wasps had a half-hearted opportunity after getting a break as Mohammad Hanif Aiman produced another shot on target.
Brunei seemed to enjoy a fair share of chances and appeared to be in a better shooting position than their opponents as they came back with another shot on target.
With the Young Azkals looking quiet, the national under-23 team survived a scare just two minutes before the break as Sandro Miguel Sison Reyes struck wide.
The Bruneians fell behind three minutes after the interval as Philippines midfielder Dennis Salazar Chung pounced on an error from Abdul Mutalip.
The Young Azkals doubled their lead through a ferocious low effort from Sison Reyes following a cutback from substitute Andres Dadael
However, the Young Wasps were handed a lifeline just a minute later after Mohammad Hakeme Yazid coolly slotted home past Enrico Marquell.
Despite the setback of trailing the match, Brunei’s ability to create chances was illustrated when Mohd Syaherrul Affendy bin Mohd Syahmirul Nizam headed wide.
Reyes looked a constant thorn in the Filipino attack but his effort curled wide much to the relief of the Bruneian defence.
In the closing stages of the game, Philippines substitute Matt Lancelot Ocampo attempted a header but could not get the conviction to trouble the Brunei goalkeeper following a cross from Orevillo Kekkonen.
