Brunei Takes Commanding Lead Over Macau in AFC Asian Cup Playoff

Brunei Darussalam secured a significant advantage in their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia playoff tie with a 3-0 victory against Macau in the first leg held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on Thursday.

Hakeme Yazid Said’s strike in the 32nd minute gave Brunei the lead going into halftime. The home side then extended their dominance in the second half with goals from Nazry Azaman in the 56th minute and Abdul Hariz five minutes later.

This comfortable win positions Brunei well ahead of the second leg, which will take place at the Macau Olympic Stadium on Tuesday. The winner of the two-leg playoff will progress to the final round of qualifiers, joining 23 other teams in the quest for a spot in the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2027.

At the final qualification round, six coveted spots in the tournament will be up for grabs, while the remaining 18 slots have already been claimed by teams competing in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26.

The draw for the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 will take place in December, with the matches commencing in March. Only the group winners will earn their place in the tournament’s final phase.

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Meghnad Iyer

Meghnad Iyer, our Indian football enthusiast, is the voice behind the vibrant narratives covering the Indian Super League (ISL). Born and raised in the football-crazed nation of India, Meghnad's articles are a celebration of the excitement and fervor that define Indian football.