Brunei Darussalam beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in the opening match of their international friendly series at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium today (June 8th).
The opening 45 minutes lacked any real spark also the possession changed hands frequently, both Sri Lanka and Brunei struggled to build fluid attacks which were threatening the opposition. This resulted in a frustratingly uncompetitive first half with only a few chances materialised as passes often went astray, and the defensive lines remained largely untested.
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The second half unfolded with an increase in intensity. Both the teams displayed better control of the ball, with Brunei particularly sharp in building counter-attacks from the back. This pressure paid dividends in the 59th minute when Brunei’s skipper Muhammad Azwan bin Ali Rahman found the back of the net, putting the home side ahead. A rocket of a hit to the right corner caught the Sri Lankan goalkeeper Sujan Perera in no man’s land.
Sri Lanka showed signs of promise in the closing stages after coach Andy Morrison introduced fresh legs with late substitutions. However, the Golden Army lacked the clinical finishing touch to convert their chances in the dying minutes of the game.
The two teams will meet again on Tuesday, June 11th, at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium for a 5:45 PM IST kick-off.
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