Gombak left stumped by Sairol double

Ong Jiing Yih
info@sleague.com

Gombak United’s unbeaten run in the Great Eastern-YEO’s S.League came to a halt on Friday evening, as they fell to a 1-2 defeat at the hands – or rather left foot – of DPMM FC midfielder Sairol Sahari.

The winger slammed two freekicks past Fadhil Salim to pull Gombak down from first place in the league table – although DPMM’s own time at the top may last no more than 24 hours as defending champions SAFFC face Sengkang Punggol the next day.

Still, the Bruneian side’s fans were exuberant as they cheered Sairol’s two goals, the first coming after just three minutes in a dream start.

Emmanuel Emuejeraye hit back with a smart finish as the DPMM defence fell asleep, but there was little Fadhil could do to prevent a repeat from Sairol 17 minutes from time.

Both teams had yet to lose a game going into their encounter at Jalan Besar Stadium, and after doing their part in creating an exciting contest, Gombak could have felt regret at finishing on the losing end.

Bulls tactician Darren Stewart was however not one to indulge in negative thinking, and he remained upbeat as he talked of his team’s performance.

“We battled on and created a few opportunities but kudos to DPMM who are a good outfit,” remarked the Australian.

“Though we conceded two set pieces there was nothing much Fadhil could do to save them. Otherwise there had been nothing negative to speak of.

“We shall be gracious in defeat and not dwell on it; I’d rather take the bad points in our stride, focus on getting over it and regroup for our next match.”

Gombak could certainly take heart from this display, having come in without three of their regulars in Jeremy Chiang, Shafuan Sutohmoh and Ojimi Gabriel Obatola.

The latter had been particularly irrepressible in the team’s earlier matches, but in his absence Kingsley Njoku proved to be a willing battler for the team cause.

The striker signalled his side’s early intent by taking on an Emuejeraye cross from the right channel, swivelled and then volleyed onto the crossbar.

However, DPMM had something up their red-and-black sleeves as they posed a significant threat from set pieces, and there was little surprise when they edged ahead after three minutes.

Perhaps the only thing unusual about the goal was that it had happened so early, but Sevki Sha’ban was punished for fouling an opponent while both were chasing for a ball.

Sairol duly flighted his freekick in towards goal and despite the best efforts of Fadhil, he could not keep it out.

The Bruneians thought they had gone two up in the eighth minute, but Oh Ddog Yi was caught offside after Fadhil had failed to hold on to a stinging long-range drive by Azwan Salleh.

Tellingly it was Oh, singled out by his coach Vjeran Simunic for criticism last week against Tampines Rovers, who made himself available at every opportunity and created plenty of problems for Gombak.

But the action was not limited to one half, as the Bulls consistently asked questions of the DPMM defence.

Njoku in particular was doing much to pep up the attack for his side, wriggling past defenders almost at will and testing Wardun Yussof with a number of close attempts.

The ebb and flow of the match seemed to suggest either a touch of magic or a spot of controversy would spice up the game, and it nearly did on 25 minutes when DPMM escaped a potential penalty call.

DPMM skipper Sallehuddin Damit looked to have brought down Njoku as the latter stormed into the box, but the referee waved play on instead to the chagrin of the Gombak fans.

Stewart was forced into an early change of personnel on 28 minutes when he had to take out rightback Yusiskandar Yusop for Ruhaizad Ismail, after the former had suffered a knee injury.

There was some serendipity in the switch, though, as it yielded dividends just 60 seconds later.

Leftback Jaslee Hatta played a measured punt forward, and the DPMM defenders relaxed as they saw Agu Casmir make no attempt to chase the ball.

But up stepped Emuejeraye as he ran right into the box, maintained his composure and placed an ice-cool finish just before Wardun could made a belated slide in attempt to dispossess him.

From then on it was all Gombak and Njoku posed a considerable threat, creating no fewer than four clear chances that could have nudged his side ahead before the break.

The pick of the bunch came on 36 minutes, when the Nigerian launched himself at a Goran Subara cross but could not aim his flying header away from Wardun.

Gombak’s onslaught continued right into the second half as another Jaslee freekick caused mayhem in the box with Bah Mamadou closing in, but Wardun was alert and palmed the ball over the bar.

Unwilling to sit back in the face of such intense pressure, DPMM responded with the introduction of striker Abdel Hamid Berguiga, who replaced defending midfielder Rosmin Kamis.

The veteran Algerian performed admirably as his side put the pressure back on to Gombak towards the end.

It produced results on 73 minutes, when the Brunei side were awarded another freekick and Sairol came to the fore once again, sending a curling left-footer straight through a crowd of white shirts and beat Fadhil with ease.

Sairol’s second goal set up a see-saw finish as Gombak pressed hard, Wardun saving a Subara effort right on the line before an incredible run by Oh on 77 minutes left Fadhil in no man’s land.

Jaslee had to come to the rescue for his out-of-position goalkeeper as hacked away the Korean’s goalbound shot.

Even a draw was within sight for the Bulls, but Wardun curbed the screams of Gombak fans after grabbing Casmir’s hopeful attempt in his arms late on.

Fazli Jaffar then fluffed an injury-time header off a Jaslee freekick, and the DPMM fans erupted in joy at the final whistle.

DPMM head coach Simunic was much more contrite as he attributed the result to sheer fortune.

“We were lucky to win,” said the Croatian.

“Gombak are the best team we faced so far and posed a difficulty with their tall players. I had wanted a point but got three.

“Each and every point is crucial for our [top five] target regardless of spirit, non-stop running and men behind the ball. The players would be happy reaching the summit.”