Caption: Hazwan Hamzah (L) on the ball against Hougang United FC last night. Picture: Courtesy of Ortus Media
Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
DPMM FC ended their 14-game winless run in the S.League with a 2-1 victory over Hougang United FC last night.
The win is the first in the competition for the Brunei side since April 2, where they overcame the same opponents 2-0 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
It is also only their second win of the season and they are second from bottom in the nine-team table with eight points from 18 matches.
DPMM FC coach Steve Kean is glad to finally get at the winning end after a long period of time.
“It’s been a long time coming. I said to the players just after the game that there have been games this season where we have played just as well or better but we did not manage to get the results that our performances deserved,” said Kean as quoted on the S.League.
“We’ve always got a result here. All the years since I’ve been here, we’ve always done well here.
“Like I said, I can think that there has been seven or eight occasions where I would have been disappointed with a draw and we went on and lost those games so I believe the win would have brought belief to the team,” he added.
Adi Said and Daud Gazale netted in either half in the win at the Hougang Stadium in Singapore.
On the other hand, Azhar Sairudin got his name on the scoresheet late on to give the Cheetahs a lifeline.
Gazale almost opened the scoring in the 13th minute after Rafael Ramazotti sent him through but he fired straight at Hougang goalkeeper Ridhuan Barudin.
DPMM FC grabbed the lead just before the half hour mark thanks to good work by Gazale to hold off his defender and send Adi through to put the ball past Ridhuan.
The hosts had an opportunity to equalise just three minutes later after a cutback by Nurhilmi Jasni for Pablo Aracil but the latter had his effort denied by DPMM FC custodian Ak Mu’izzuddin Pg Ismail.
Md Hendra Azam Md Idris went for goal from a 40-yard freekick but Ridhuan went full stretch to keep it out.
However, the Cheetahs custodian had to be substituted in the process after colliding with the upright see Khairulhin Khalid take his place in between the sticks.
Hougang came close to equalised in the 62nd minute but Azhar’s freekick came off the upright.
Gazale was on target with a setpiece three minutes later which required Khairulhin to tip over.
DPMM FC doubled their advantage in the 77th minute after the Chilean forward chipped Khairulhin from 25 yards out.
It is the first goal for Gazale since joining DPMM FC in May.
Ramazotti could have killed off the match in the 83rd minute but couldn’t connect fully from inside the six-yard box.
In turn, the Cheetahs got back in the game three minutes later after Iqbal Hussain got the better of three defenders before sending Azhar through to score but it proved to be a mere consolation.
DPMM FC will next host basement dwellers Garena Young Lions at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Oct 7.
