Football: McAllister hails Brunei’s character after 10-man win over KL
Brunei coach Jamie McAllister praised his side’s resilience after they held out with ten men to eliminate Kuala Lumpur from the FA Cup quarter‑finals on Sunday at Cheras Football Stadium.
Source: The Star · October 13, 2026 at 4:32 AM · AI-assisted report
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CHERAS FOOTBALL STADIUM, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —
Brunei coach Jamie McAllister praised his side’s resilience after they held out with ten men to eliminate Kuala Lumpur from the FA Cup quarter‑finals on Sunday at Cheras Football Stadium.
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The Borneo outfit edged the City Boys 1‑0 on the night and 4‑3 on aggregate, overturning a 3‑3 first‑leg draw. The decisive goal came in the 12th minute when Australian striker Jordan Murray gave Brunei the lead, a scoreline they defended for the remainder of the match despite being reduced to ten players.
Brunei’s numerical disadvantage arose in the dying stages of the first half when wing‑back Tommy Mawat Bada was shown a red card for a high‑foot challenge on KL winger Fazrul Amir Zaman. McAllister said the team’s response to the dismissal highlighted “their character, team spirit and togetherness”. He added, “The boys gave everything, especially in the second half with 10 men. They left everything on the pitch.
It just shows you their character, team spirit and togetherness.” He noted that the squad rallied around Bada at half‑time, supporting him and ensuring the group remained cohesive.
Despite the red card, Kuala Lumpur struggled to create clear chances in the second half, only mounting sustained pressure in the final 15 minutes. Brunei’s defence held firm, denying the hosts an equaliser and preserving Murray’s early lead. McAllister asserted that Brunei had been the better side even before the dismissal, saying, “I thought from the start of the game, we started very well.
I thought we were the better team as we controlled the first half.” He pointed to Kuala Lumpur’s two substitutions after roughly 30 minutes as evidence that the City Boys had to alter their game plan, crediting his players for executing the original strategy.
The victory sets up a semi‑final clash with defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT). McAllister’s comments suggested confidence that Brunei can maintain their disciplined approach against the Malaysian giants, emphasizing the importance of collective support and resilience as the team progresses in the tournament.
Related: Cheras Football Stadium