Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Pictures: Courtesy of Singapore Premier League
DPMM FC suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season after falling 1-0 to Home United FC in the Singapore Premier League last night.
Arshad Shamim’s first ever goal in the competition late in the game separated the two sides at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore.
DPMM FC continue to lead the standings by three points from Albirex Niigata FC (S) with 34 points but Tampines Rovers FC are now in the title race after defeating Hougang United FC 4-2 in another game to push them up to third - four points off the top.
Home United should have taken the lead in the 15th minute off a setpiece.
Hafiz Nor’s freekick from the left was headed to the far post for Shahril Ishak but the latter’s effort was kept out by DPMM FC skipper and custodian Wardun Yussof.
The Protectors had another opportunity 18 minutes later off another freekick from a similar position.
Shahril got at the end of Hafiz’s freekick only to watch his effort come off the crossbar.
DPMM FC came close 10 minutes after the break after Blake Ricciuto lost his defender down the left.
The Australian then cut the ball back, with Adi Said playing the dummy, for Hendra Azam Md Idris to fire only for Home goalkeeper Nazri Sabri to produce a superb save.
They had another chance in the 64th minute after Adi Said was played through on goal.
But instead of going for goal in a one-on-one with Nazri, he decided to put the ball to his left for Azizi Ali Rahman but Home skipper Abdil Qaiyyim did well to sprint back and intercept the pass.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 80th minute after Juma’at Jantan tried a shot from the edge of the box only for it to be block.
But the rebound was headed on by Shahril for Arshad to put the ball past Wardun.
DPMM FC came close to level the game and get something from the game late on but Charlie Clough’s header off a Shahrazen Said cross from the left went inches wide of the upright.
DPMM FC coach Adrian Pennock was disappointed not to get anything out of the game.
“I’m not happy tonight as I thought we should have got something from the game,” said Pennock in an interview with BruSports News after the defeat.
“But we move on and look forward to our home game on Friday.
“We can’t rely on other results. We must get back to winning way as soon as possible,” he concluded.
DPMM FC will host Geylang International FC at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Friday night.
