Brunei DPMM FC vs SAFFC Report [2-1]

Bruneians go top after bruising battle Rano Iskandar info@sleague.com It was a perfect birthday gift for Brunei DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic as his team continued its 100% home record, beating powerhouse SAFFC 2-1, at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium last evening. Algerian striker Abdelhamid Berguiga scored the winning goal in the 47th minute but it wasn't a smooth sailing ride for the home side. A sending off for Pg Sallehuddin Damit and a late goal by SAFFC heightened the tension in the last ten minutes of the match. Ivan Jerkovic had given DPMM an ideal start, scoring from a counter attack. Azwan Salleh fired a long pass to Abdelhamid down the left wing. The Algerian then squared an intelligent pass to the unmarked Jerkovic down the right before firing in a low drive past Shahril Jantan in the 7th minute. The home side could have doubled or tripled their goal but it was their finishing that let them down. The Warriors had minor moments in the first half through their captain Aleksandar Duric but both his headers towards goal were dealt with ease by Wardun in goal. Abdelhamid Berguiga, 34, proved his critics wrong with a vintage display upfront, constantly troubling the likes of Daniel Bennett and Kenji Arai in defence. He benefited a first team line up due to Oh Ddog Yi's suspension and the Algerian made an impact despite missing hat-trick of chances in the first half. His hard work paid off early in the second half as he gave DPMM FC a 2-goal cushion in the 47th minute. Rene Komar sent a long pass into the heart of SAFFC defence where Abdelhamid has been a constant aerial threa. The Algerian then collected the pass and shrugged off Arai and Bennett before slotting the ball past Shahril Jantan that brought the strong 10,000 crowd into a frenzy state. SAFFC had a poor first half and with their scoring calibre in the league, surprisingly Wardun Yussof was hardly tested in goal. The Warriors had a better share of the possession but lack the finishing touch in the final third. The Singaporeans were given a lifeline after Pg Sallehuddin Damit received his marching orders after two bookable offence in the 78th minute. The one man advantage constantly pressured DPMM FC and Simunic made tactical changes to bring in fresh legs in defence. Thailand import Therdsak Chaiman was industrious in midfield, trying to unlock DPMM FC's stubborn defence. His pace and quick passing gave the home crowd something to worry about. Late in the game, his battling performance was rewarded with a goal from a freekick. In the 89th minute, the Thai midfielder curled in a freekick to reduce the deficit to 2-1 after Subhi Abdilah fouled Guntur Djafril outside the penalty box. It was another tensed affair with four minutes injury time. With virtually seconds remaining, the Warriors were again given a freekick from 25 yards. However, DPMM FC defence stood firm and the referee blew the full time whistle to the delight of the home supporters. It was an unlikely result for SAFFC who are known for its scoring prowess. Credit goes to Rene Komar and Pg Sallehuddin who were rock solid in defence as they successfully foiled SAFFC's momentum in attack. Rene Komar made numerous crucial intervention late in the game to the Warriors' frustration. Simunic, who turned 55 last night, was very delight with the result. However, he was disappointed with one thing. "I make a Barcelona type of match here. I'm disappointed it wasn't 30,000 fans watching the match. We prepared very well for this game. It was fun and sweet," commented DPMM coach. When asked if this is the best result, he replied, "I like all my result. I enjoy all my victories and I'm very happy with my players." His counterpart, Richard Bok, praised DPMM FC for being organised and discipline. "You can see that DPMM FC where more hungrier and they created more chances than us. In the first half, we are lethargic but we were better in the 2nd half." "We will be bounce back from this result and be stronger in the next game. We can only look forward now. We may have lost the battle but not the war." The result put DPMM FC back on top of the S.League with 22 points while Singapore Armed Forces FC had to settle for 2nd place with 21 points. Gombak United also shared the same points in third place. With only almost one third of the season being played, it's still an open race for the top half of the league. DPMM FC's winning performance may just give a psychological advantage in the next few games.