Expect drama as Balestier and DPMM square off

Fabius Chen
info@sleague.com

Brunei DPMM’s debut Great Eastern-YEO'S S.League season has been the quintessential “better late than never” story thus far.

First, their inclusion as the league’s 12th team was announced just a week before the season kicked off.

Then, in each of their first three games, they scored in the final five minutes to salvage a point against the Young Lions and seal 2-1 victories over Super Reds and Woodlands Wellington.

But they aren’t the only side capable of breaking opposition hearts in the dying minutes of games.

Last week, Balestier Khalsa went into their game against Super Reds as underdogs but escaped from Yishun Stadium with a draw, thanks to Australian forward Bryan Soane’s stoppage-time equaliser.

However, the Tigers are aware that the shoe could well be on the other foot as Thursday’s game at Toa Payoh Stadium winds down.

According to coach Nasaruddin Abdul Jalil, high-flying DPMM’s strength in depth is the driving force behind their ability to score late on in games.

“They have players on the bench who, when brought on, can change the game,” he pointed out.

“DPMM play an aggressive game and with attackers like Oh Ddog Yi and Abdel Hamid Berguiga, this will be a good test for my players.”

The new strike partnership of Oh and Berguiga started together for the first time in the goalless draw against Geylang United. Despite drawing a blank, it is a combination that promises goals.

South Korean Oh found the back of the net 12 times for Super Reds last season, while Algerian Berguiga has twice finished on top of his native country’s goalscoring charts.

Goalkeeper Hafez Mawasi added: “The coach has been telling us to keep our focus and take care of our own positions, especially in the last five or so minutes.”

The Tigers’ 25-year-old stopper was his side’s other hero in the draw against Super Reds, saving Yu Hyun Koo’s second-half spot-kick. It was the third penalty that Balestier has conceded so far this season.

When asked about the recent spate of penalty decisions against his side, Hafez replied: “At the moment, we are spending a lot of time working on our defence to prevent giving away and conceding from penalties.”

Indeed, penalties could yet prove decisive in Thursday’s clash. In their first four S.League games, DPMM have already run the spot-kick gamut; conceding from the spot to Super Reds, then missing one and scoring another against Woodlands Wellington.

Despite currently propping up the league table like they did last season, Balestier midfielder Anantha Rajan hailed his side’s high morale and fighting spirit.

“We were down 1-0 to Tampines and came back to draw; then, we went down 1-0 to Super Reds and came back to draw as well.

“Anything can happen in football; we might upset the odds and get a result against DPMM.”

Anantha, whose pinpoint free-kick allowed Soane to rescue a point against the Korean side, emphasised that while the Tigers are in familiar territory as far as their league position is concerned, things are looking up for the club, both on and off the pitch.

“This is a great team, much better than last season’s,” he concluded.