DPMM FC squandered points at home  

 It wasn’t a big turnout last night at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium. Maybe the Raya festive season is not over yet.Adi Said was the star of the night but it was Hougang United FC who stole a point with a late equalizer. This can become a familiarity area for DPMM FC to give away points in the dying minutes. Previously Tampines Rovers FC scored in the dying seconds to change the course of the game. Last night was no different. Hougang United FC are one tough cookie and they celebrated the draw as if they won the match.

If DPMM FC just disciplined themselves late in the game to hold the game, it would have been a great three point effort match especially coming back from behind and furthermore, they played at their home. In the dying minutes, Geison Moura broke the hearts of DPMM FC as he scored the equalizer right after a great throw-in effort by the visitors. The match ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw but the first half was kinda forgettable indeed. DPMM FC were toothless upfront and they didn’t look as hungry as they were during the training I observed a couple of days ago.

After the break, Hougang United FC drew first blood through Nurhilmi Jasni in the 53rd minute, right off a counter attack and caught DPMM FC’s defence napping. It was definitely a wake up call for DPMM FC after the visitors scored. Before the goal, DPMM FC looked more dangerous in attack and they could have broke the deadlock earlier on. Roberto’s close range shot drove over the bar in the 51st minute and that miss proved costly as the visitors scored immediately from a run of play.

DPMM FC’s Maudadi had a great performance on the field in the first half before being replaced by the star of the evening, Adi Said who scored a brace. In the 75th minute, Adi Said benefited from a corner as his header went past the keeper with ease in the 75th minute. However, it was his second goal that was a piece of magic. He collected a pass of his teammate and he made a rasping drive past the keeper from a diagonal angle. As you know, he was not certain to play for DPMM FC as he is listed for the upcoming Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy. It was good that he was made available for this game and that made a lot of difference when both Donovan and Rodrigo couldn’t find the net.

Rodrigo could have made it 3-1 late in the game. It could be even contender for goal of the season. He flicked an incoming pass with the side of his boots and then volleyed a dipping shot from 30 yards that rattled the bar to the relieve of Hougang’s keeper. Even I couldn’t believe that wasn’t a goal. That would have put the game in the bag with a valuable three points for the home side.

Shahrazen also had one or two efforts that would add more cushion on the lead. In the end, Geison Moura’s goal overshadowed Adi Said’s heroics as a super sub and DPMM FC had to settle for a point.

The result meant that DPMM FC are now one point ahead of Tampines Rovers FC in the S•League. With three games left in the second round, DPMM FC must focus on their training as they have a three week break before the league commence.

 

Roy O’Donovan was just unlucky not to get a goal or two 

Adi Said scored two goals but wasn’t enough to steal all three points 

A minor scuffle that could have gone bad