DPMM FC fall to 1st home loss

DPMM FC'S unbeaten Singapore League (S-League) home record came crumbling down last night, looking decidedly second-best throughout their 2-1 loss to Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) FC.

Never in any of their two S-League seasons have Brunei's premier club lost at home, and though they still top the 13-team table, Tampines Rovers FC's 3-1 win over Balestier Khalsa FC in last night's other game means the defending champions are now equal on points with DPMM FC second only because of goal difference.

With Home United and Albirex Niigata (S) FC just two points adrift, DPMM FC's next game on July 18 against Albirex away takes on more significance, as do their next two games, which will also be played in Singapore.

DPMM FC's third loss of the season, and their second in as many matches, the team never really got their passing going at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas and their strike force suffered as a result.

Eight-time champions, SAF out-runned DPMM FC's midfield most of the game, with Croatian Marin Vidosevic particularly impressive in the centre-back role with several last-ditch tackles and key interceptions.

SAF's Fazrul Nawaz opened the scoring in the 15th minute after connecting on a cross from Aliff Shafaein, and though Adi Said leveled the scores for the hosts after heading home a 33rd minute cross from captain Rosmin Kamis to net his first goal for the club, DPMM FC failed to sustain any offensive pressure in the second half.

A cross from Mislav Karoglan, last season's S-League top scorer with 33 goals, was punched away by goalkeeper Wardun Yussof in the 56th minute, but in an attempt to clear the ball, Hj Muhd Subhi Abdilah Hj Bakir turned the ball into his own net canceling out his good work to clear the ball off the line during SAF's previous attack.

Opting for long balls as the game wore on, DPMM FC created several chances in the dying minutes most notably through defender Tales Ricarte Dos Santo who hit the crossbar.

Vjeran Simunic seemed resigned to the loss and admitted that his team didn't deserve to win.

With the team losing their first round Singapore Cup tie against Home United last month, the side has now failed to win any of their past three competitive games, and DPMM FC's coach noted that every loss meant a drop in confidence.

"It's been three years ... We knew we would lose at home one day," said Simunic.

"We did a good job it just wasn't our day. We created many chances in the last five minutes, we deserved to draw.

"We played with many long balls because the players wanted to score as soon as possible, but that is not our recognisable game. That was not something we decided on. This team isn't as experienced as Tampines, SAF or Home (United FC)," added the Croatian.

Asked why he did not tell the players to discard their long ball tactic, Simunic only shrugged and replied, "They did not follow".

With Vidosevic and Singapore international Daniel Bennett thwarting any threat from long-balls and crosses, and DPMM lacking their usual creativity in the middle of the park, there were always signs that the dreaded first defeat was on the cards.The Brunei Times