A win away from title  

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.”

 

  

 

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