Brunei’s football team secured a 3-2 comeback victory over Kuching City in the Borneo derby on Sunday at Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan, propelled by Brazilian striker Dalberto Luan who ended a four-match scoring drought with two goals.

Luan, 32, had yet to score in his first four appearances in the Super League this season but broke through in emphatic fashion, helping Brunei overturn a two-goal deficit. The win elevated Brunei to fourth place in the league standings, accumulating nine points from five matches, while Kuching City remained third with 12 points from six games.

Brunei took an early lead in the 6th minute when Luan capitalized on a cross delivered by right winger Farris Izdiham Awang Kechik. However, Kuching City responded in the 28th minute as Australian winger Dylan Wenzel-Halls curled a free kick into the net, leveling the score. Wenzel-Halls then gave Kuching City the lead again early in the second half, finishing a pass from midfielder Ryan Lambert in the 50th minute.

The momentum shifted in Brunei’s favor in the 62nd minute following the dismissal of Kuching’s Namibian midfielder Petrus Shitembi, who received a second yellow card. Brunei quickly capitalized on their numerical advantage, with captain Azwan Ali Rahman equalizing a minute later through a well-executed free kick from 25 meters. Just three minutes afterward, Luan completed the turnaround by netting a goal off a cross from Portuguese midfielder Miguel Oliveira.

Reflecting on his performance, Luan described the occasion as special, noting the significance of scoring his first league goals and the confidence it instilled. "Scoring my first league goals means a lot and doing it twice in a night during the Borneo derby has made it a special night for me," he said, expressing gratitude and optimism heading into upcoming matches.

Luan also discussed his ongoing adjustment to the Malaysian Super League, acknowledging the similarities and differences compared to his previous experience in Indonesia. He emphasized his commitment to understanding the league, bonding with teammates, and evolving as a striker to better serve the team and its supporters.

Brunei’s victory marked a crucial boost to their campaign as they aim to maintain positive momentum in the competitive early stages of the season.