Just one more win

Alberix Niigata vs DPMM FC highlights

Adi Said back in scoring form and scored the vital goal. Image courtesy of Halim Hakim of S•League

Report by Redzwan Kamarudin from Singapore: They have one hand on the Great-Eastern Yeo’s S.League trophy, and only need one more win to lift it.

Brunei DPMM are only one win away from becoming S.League champions after they defeated Albirex Nigata 1-0 at the Jurong East Stadium last night.

Adi Said’s header just after the hour mark, his seventh goal this season, proved to be the only difference as DPMM fought hard and snapped their five games winless streak.

The result means that a win from their showdown against defending champions Tampines Rovers this Friday at the Jalan Besar Stadium will see the Bruneian outfit be declared champions.

Speaking after the match, DPMM head coach Steve Kean said: “It feels great to be back in control. I don’t think we’ve been playing badly recently, but we just haven’t been ruthless.

“We haven’t been getting clean sheets, and I’ve been giving my defenders a hard time because of it. They’re paid to defend, and we haven’t had any clean sheets.

“But tonight they threw their bodies on the line and I’m so proud of them, and I expect the same from the team on Friday.”

The first team line up from DPMM FC last night. Image courtesy of Halim Hakim of S•League

Azwan Salleh taking the captain role for DPMM FC last night. Image courtesy of Halim Hakim of S•League

Roy O’Donovan arguing with the referee last night. Image courtesy of Halim Hakim of S•League

DPMM will also become only the second foreign team to win the league, after French outfit Etoile FC who were the winners in the 2010 season.

Kean’s men came into the match on the back of a draw with Balestier Khalsa (1-1), a loss against fellow title contenders Warriors FC (3-2), Home United (3-4) in the RHB Singapore Cup semi final, and nothing but a win would keep their title hopes alive and in their own hands.

Tampines and DPMM have met twice this season, with the Stags defeating their Bruneian counterparts 2-1 on both occasions. Yet Kean remains unfazed.

He said: “I don’t pay much attention to past games. When it’s the last game of the season, anything goes.

“We always want to create chances, no matter what kind of formation we’ll play. And against Tampines we don’t want to just hang on and play their kind of game, but we want to take the game right to them and score the goals.”

Roy O’Donovan shown the red card in the dying minutes. Image courtesy of Halim Hakim of S•League

DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean talking to the press. Image courtesy of Halim Hakim of S•League

Beating the defending champions is already a tall order, but DPMM’s task isn’t made easier after marquee signing Roy O’Donovan was sent off late into injury time for a disagreement with a referee.

The suspension means that the Irish hitman won’t be available for the crucial match against Tampines, and they will have to rely on the league’s top scorer Rodrigo Tosi (30 goals) to lead them up front.

DPMM and Warriors are both locked on 50 points atop the league table with Kean’s men leading just by goal difference (34 to DPMM, 17 to Warriors).

Even if DPMM fail to beat Tampines this Friday, they can still lift the title providing Albirex beat Warriors at Chua Chu Kang Stadium.

Kean though, isn’t expecting any favours at all from his counterparts.

He said: “We’re still in control of our own destiny.

“We’ve been working hard for the past 11 months. We want to show how much we’ve improved, and we’re going to go all out for a win.”