Mitsubishi Electric Cup

Timor-Leste will hope to put the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2022 edition behind them when they go head-to-head against Brunei Darussalam for a place in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024. 

Timor-Leste and Brunei DS play a two-legged qualifiers tie on October 8 and 15 with only the winner progressing to the group stage of the showpiece to complete the 10-team pool in the 15th edition of the ASEAN Championship. 

Timor-Leste made their debut in the regional showpiece in 2004 and were seconds away from a famous win against the Philippines in their second fixture when they led through a Januario goal only to lose 2-1 to two stoppage-time goals – meaning they exited the competition without a point. 

They then had to wait 14 years to reach another ASEAN Championship after they overcame Brunei DS 3-2 on aggregate in the 2018 qualifiers. They put on a fight against Indonesia and the Azkals in the group stage, but still failed to register their first point in the tournament. 

O Sol Nascente made it to back-to-back ASEAN Championships for the first time two years later though they exited in the group stages again without scoring a single goal in four group stage fixtures. 

They were denied a hat-trick of appearances in the competition in 2022 after a heavy defeat to Brunei DS and they will set their sights on avenging that loss to their opponents when they meet again in the qualification event for the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024. 

Having managed Timor-Leste during a brief stint in 2017, Chilean tactician Simon Elissetche returned to take charge of the national team earlier this year and helped the nation reach the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers last month. Having managed clubs in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Elissetche has plenty of experience in Southeast Asian football and will hope to make more good memories in his current role by guiding his side to the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024. 

Timor-Leste winger Joao Pedro is one player Brunei DS will have to be wary of with the 26-year-old bringing the experience of representing clubs like PSM Makassar, Benfica Macau and Angkor Tiger. The attacker, who was born in Indonesia, bagged a brilliant hat-trick against Mongolia in the first leg of their playoff last month to ensure his side’s progress to the next round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. 

After a heavy loss to Chinese Taipei in the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers last year, Timor-Leste returned to action in September with a 4-1 win against Mongolia. A 2-0 defeat to the same opposition followed, but that did not deny them a 4-3 aggregate win in the playoffs to make it to the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers where they will join 23 other nations to fight for the six remaining places in the continental tournament. 

First Leg: Brunei Darussalam vs Timor-Leste    

Venue: Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan 

Kick-off: October 8, 8:30 PM (Local Time)  

Second Leg: Timor-Leste vs Brunei Darussalam   

Venue: Chonburi Stadium, Mueang Chonburi

Kick-off: October 15, 7:30 PM (Local Time)