BY Fadhil Yunus

The Brunei Darussalam national under-16 team concluded their campaign in Group ‘B’ of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Under-16 Boys’ Championship with a heavy 10-0 defeat to Laos at the Sultan Agung Stadium in Bantul, Indonesia on Sunday.

Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah captained the under-16 team and marked his third appearance in the competition.

The result marked their second consecutive defeat by double digits having previously endured a loss by the same score-line against Timor Leste just five days ago.

The Young Wasps also lost 5-0 in their opening group game against Thailand at the Maguwoharjo Stadium in Sleman last Monday.

Laos forward Thanousack Nanthavongdouangsy and midfielder Sayfon Keohanam inflicted most of the damage to the beleaguered side after the pair put on four-goal displays.

Nanthavongdouangsy opened the scoring in the 10th minute before midfielder and captain Keohanam doubled the lead in the 26th minute from the spot.

Laos made it 3-0 just three minutes later with Nanthavongdouangsy on target again before Keohanam matched his goal tally in the game nine minutes later.

Keohanam completed his hat-trick in the 53rd minute before adding a fourth four minutes later.

The Young Warlord Paprika continued to lay siege on the Bruneian defence with Nanthavongdouangsy grabbing a hat-trick in the 67th minute before substitute Xayxana Sihalath joined in the act a minute later.

Nanthavongdouangsy joined the four-goal club when he found the back of the net in the 71st minute before Sihalath compounded Brunei’s misery with his second of the game three minutes from time.

Meanwhile, Thailand defeated Timor Leste 4-1 in the later kick-off to advance to the knock-out round of the competition with seven points, two clear of second-placed Laos.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin