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 attended the first leg of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup qualification round match between Brunei Darussalam and Timor-Leste at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas last night.
Accompanying His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah were Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim, 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 Brunei Darussalam national football team will need to overturn a goal deficit after going down to Timor-Leste 1-0 in the first leg.
The first-leg defeat ended Brunei’s five-game unbeaten streak and a run of four consecutive clean sheets.
The visitors took the lead three minutes into the second half as Paulo Domingos Gali Da Costa Freitas found a way past Brunei Darussalam goalkeeper Muhammad Haimie bin Abdullah Nyaring.
The 19-year old, who is the youngest player in both teams’ starting line-ups, proved to be the match-winner in a highly entertaining contest that had registered 29 shots.
Of the 29 attempts, Brunei made 15 while Timor-Leste, who looks to avenge their 6-2 defeat during their last visit to the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium managed 14.
The Wasps will have to turn the tie around when they face each other in the second leg at the Chonburi Stadium in Chonburi, Thailand on October 15. – Fadhil Yunus
