His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman graced the Brunei Super League match between DPMM FC and Kasuka FC at the Jerudong Park Mini Stadium in Kampong Jerudong yesterday.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim featured as team captain for DPMM FC, who were beaten 3-2 by Kasuka FC.
Kasuka – the reigning holders – inflicted a first defeat of the season to DPMM FC, ending a run of 12 consecutive victories.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda Muhammad Aiman and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Faathimah Az-Zahraa’ Raihaanul Bolkiah were also present.
The match between the top two teams in the league, billed as a title decider, started in a high intensity with both teams looking to make their presence count.
There have never been any major tests for these two titans before this which served as a recipe for an entertaining battle.
The visitors looked very dangerous as they broke forward with purpose and enjoyed possession as they looked to carve open the DPMM FC defence. Their threat of applying pressure to the backline finally paid off as top goalscorer Willian dos Santos produced a spectacular acrobatic effort to beat DPMM FC goalkeeper Jefri Syafiq Ishak.
The sub-plot to arguably the biggest match of this season is the tussle for the top scorer award between DPMM FC’s Sergio Mendiguchia Iglesias and Kasuka FC’s Willian dos Santos.
In a battle of the leading goal-scorers, the Brazilian’s opener put him on par with his rival’s whopping tally on 33 goals. The hosts levelled the game as their main threat stroke the ball home after appearing to beat the offside trap amid the protests of the Kasuka players.
Armed with firepower that matches DPMM FC’s line-up, the visitors continued their attacking intent and won a penalty Jefri Syafiq Ishak brought down an attacker.
From the spot, Willian dos Santos managed to find the bottom corner to beat the goalkeeper, sending the away end into a frenzy again. At half time, Kasuka – the defending champions – have the upper hand not just this tie in a significance not seen since the MS ABDB and Indera SC rivalry, but the race to the championship title.
As it stood during the breather, the team in white goes one point clear ahead of the Gegar Gegar men, which could ultimately be the defining moment of the title race. – Fadhil Yunus
