Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
DPMM FC were handed a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Sabah FA last night in their final tune-up game ahead of their Singapore Premier League campaign.
Substitute Justin Samaan netted a brace while Puerto Rican forward Hector Ramos added another for the Malaysian Premier League side in the victory at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
On the other hand, Abdul Aziz Tamit netted a consolation for the hosts.
Sabah almost grabbed the opener in the sixth minute but Ramos watched his shot come off the crossbar.
DPMM FC should have gone ahead just before the half hour mark after good work by skipper Shahrazen Said to send Azwan Ali Rahman through on goal.
The latter got round an onrushing Robson Rendy Rining in between the Sabah sticks but put his effort just wide of the post.
Sabah broke the deadlock in the 44th minute after the ball was played to the left for Samaan to fire home.
He almost added a second immediately after the restart but DPMM FC goalkeeper Haimie Anak Nyaring saved his attempt.
The ball came off the post and the Brunei side failed to clear resulting in it being played back into the middle for Ramos to slot home and double their lead going into the interval.
DPMM FC skipper Shahrazen Said crosses the ball against Sabah FA. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
DPMM FC were given a lifeline in the 65th minute after a corner kick had missed everyone and eventually went off Aziz and into goal at the far post.
Over at the other end, Heo Jaen-yeong rose the highest but couldn’t keep his header on target.
Volodymyr Proyyomov was on target moments later but his header was kept out by Rining.
Samaan then killed off the game 10 minutes from time.
A freekick into the area was headed away by Brian McLean but only to as far as Samaan, who unleashed a shot from outside the box to beat Haimie and seal the win for Sabah.
DPMM FC will now look ahead to their Singapore Premier League opener against Home United FC at the same venue on Saturday night.
