Bruneians ride luck to extend unbeaten run
Jack Koh
info@sleague.com
New boys Brunei DPMM, the subject of much discussion in the Great Eastern-YEO’s S.League, are now the cause of clamorous carousing back at home after a 2-2 draw with Albirex Niigata (Singapore) on Tuesday evening.
However, a stalemate to mark their ninth unbeaten match was not the most advantageous result, as reigning champions SAFFC could capitalise on the Bruneians’ dropped points and reclaim pole position if they beat Super Reds on Friday.
The scoreline was a definite contrast to growing talk of DPMM being likely title contenders, as it was Albirex who cannoned blistering attacks that led to them leading twice.
The Japanese triumvirate of Tetsuya Kishida, Kenji Adachihara and Keisuke Ogawa up front provided the hosts with ammunition to wreck the visitors’ penalty box. Overlapping runs from wingbacks Shunsuke Sunaga and Ryuta Hayashi also fuelled the team down the flanks aptly as they put their visitors at Jurong East on the back foot.
It took only ten minutes for Sunaga to tee up Adachihara for the White Swans’ first strike on target. The latter converted the rebound off his first effort - which DPMM custodian Wardun Yussof botched in his attempt to punch clear.
Minutes after the opening goal, a continued spell of immense pressure from the Japanese forwards saw the reputed solidity of the Bruneians’ backline repeatedly exposed.
However, trailing by a goal did open the door for the visitors to start breathing down the necks of their speedy rivals.
Vjeran Simunic played an early gambit by replacing Azwan Salleh with Abdel Hamid Berguiga, and before long the Algerian shimmied past his marker and with the Japanese goal unguarded on his far side, he chose to release a thunderbolt near post that flew metres wide.
Nevertheless, it was probably a mark of champions that does not require any real flashes of brilliance to produce a satisfactory result.
With four minutes remaining in the first half, Shahrazen Said latched on to the ricochet of wide man Haji Subhi Abdilah’s strike, and smashed in the equaliser.
Things were thus evenly-poised at the interval, and three points were well in sight for either side.
The second half whistle signalled the start of 45 minutes of an end-to-end football. The exhilaration and intensity of the match doubled as both sides took turns to attack and defend.
It was down to the hosts once again to take the first goal of the half. Kunihiro Honda started a move down the right that saw him finish with a collected placement of the ball in to the Bruneians’ net.
The Albirex No.6 raced past his opposite number, DPMM skipper Pg Sallehuddin Damit, to deliver a low cross into the box, only for Wardun to push the ball back into his path. He then made no mistake from six yards out.
This was a reality check for a Wasps side that revealed a rarely-exposed defensive infirmity - their defenders were curiously ineffective in snuffing out danger inside their own penalty area.
The result of the match looked all set to stay in the hosts’ favour, forcing Simunic to bring on Abu Bakar Mahari on 65 minutes.
The forward had gained a reputation as DPMM’s super-sub after scoring twice in his first two games. This time, however, he contributed without having to touch the ball.
Seconds after Abu Bakar came on, DPMM equalised with a lofted ball from the backline deflected into Albirex’s net, off the shin of an opportunely-positioned Berguiga. How much he knew about that strike is anyone’s guess.
From there on, the Bruneians fell back into defensive mode as they did their best to play out time with diving antics to draw fouls. In contrast, the White Swans flung themselves forward in a bid to claim their fourth consecutive home victory.
Despite the resilience and determination of Albirex to find that elusive winning strike, the scoreline remained at 2-2 right through to the final whistle.
That score sugarcoated the Bruneians’ play so much so that they were relieved to go home with a draw.
“I am very happy we’re still unbeaten. Very happy to have one point today,” claimed Simunic.
“I hope we’ll be better when we play SAFFC. If we play like this, we will lose 5-0.”
Albirex coach Naoki Naruo was more disappointed not to collect maximum points.
“I hoped for three points, not one,” he admitted.
“Honestly, we would like to keep winning at home, so to draw this game was disappointing. We had a one-goal advantage two times, but we could not get a two-goal lead that would have given us a better position.”
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