Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Pictures: Courtesy of Singapore Premier League
DPMM FC coach Adrian Pennock believes that forward Andrei Varankou will only get better as the season progresses.
The Belarusian scored a whooping five goals to lead DPMM FC in their 7-1 thumping of Balestier Khalsa FC to move to the summit of the Singapore Premier League on Saturday.
Varankou is now the leading topscorer of the competition with eight goals and becomes only the third player to score five in a league game.
Pennock believes that there will be more to come from his striker.
“Andrei has had an excellent start to the season and I believe there will be more to come from him,” said Pennock in a post-match interview with BruSports News.
“I think he will score more goals and play even better,” he added.
DPMM FC are now on a 12-game unbeaten run stretching from last season and are the only unbeaten team left in the competition.
They sit at the top of the table with 13 points followed closely by Tampines Rovers FC three points behind.
Pennock feels that things will only get tougher considering their unbeaten status.
“It is a fantastic feeling to be top of the league. It has been a very good start,” said the former Stoke City coach.
“Everybody will now want to beat us since we are the only unbeaten team left. This is where hard work will get even harder now,” he added.
DPMM FC broke the deadlock in the 14th minute after Helmi Zambin did well to keep the ball in play before whipping in a cross from the right for Varankou to head home.
Blake Ricciuto doubled their lead in the 27th minute with a superb strike from way outside leaving the Balestier goalkeeper Zacharial Leong no chance.
He got his second of the game just four minutes later after good work by Azizi Ali Rahman to pressure and his clearance went straight to Ricciuto before he dribbled into the box to fire home.
It was 4-0 minutes before the break after Azizi sent in a cross from the right for Varankou to tap home from close range at the far post.
Balestier had an opportunity to grab one back after Hazzuwan Halim was sent through and despite having beaten Wardun Yussof, his shot was cleared off the line by Helmi.
Varankou bagged his hat-trick just before the hour mark after he headed home Helmi’s ball into box and claimed his fourth goal from the spot in the 72nd minute to make it 6-0.
The Tigers got one back through Sanjin Vrebac in the 79th minute before Varankou completed the rout with another header off a corner minutes later.
DPMM FC will host basement dwellers Warriors FC at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Saturday (April 20).
