Abdel Hamid Berguiga repaid head coach Vjeran Simunic's trust in him by scoring the winner in DPMM FC's 2-1 victory against Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) FC in last night's S-League action to send the Bruneians back to the top of the league.
Handing the Algerian his first start of the season at home soil, Simunic - who celebrated his birthday yesterday- got just the present he was looking for when the striker created the first goal and scored the second.
The result stretches DPMM's win so far in the season at home, complete the first round matches at home with 3 points in every game.
"From Wardun to Hamid, my players were all excellent," said a shirtless Simunic after the game." We know their defenders Daniel Bennett and Urai the Japanese player were shaky when they played Gombak last month, so I put Hamid on the left and worked on getting long balls to him.
"We prepared very nicely for this game and we could scored five or six tonight," added the coach, having to speak above the noise of the home fans who were singing him Happy Birthday".
South Korean midfielder,Oh Ddog Yi's suspension for last night's game meant Hamid would be starting, and simunic will be hard pressed not to incluse him in the first eleven in the future after a shining display from the 35-year old who had immaculate control of the ball.
A constant threat to the defending champions back four, Hamid had a chance to open the scoring as early as the fifth minute but his header from a Shahrazen cross glanced inches wide of the left post.
He made amends for his miss two minutes later,providing a pin-point cross-field pass to midfielder Ivan Jerkovic, who was left unmarked on the right and fired a low shot to the left which found the back of the net.
The Algerian,who can hardly speak a word of English or Malay, had a chance to double the lead in the 22nd minute but his header was off the mark.
Midfielder Rosmin Khamis had a volley which sailed inches wide of the right post minutes later and Hamid's cheeky chip over SAF FC goalkeeper Alias agonisingly landed on the roof of the net.
Probably still recovering from their mid-week 5-0 loss against J-League champions Kashima Antlers, a result which saw them knocked out of the Asian football Federation Champions League in the group stage,SAF FC looked sluggish in midfield.
Hamid gave the visitors even more to worry about minutes after the restart when he glided past his marker from receiving a through ball from midfield and scored after the ensuing one on one agianst Alias.
The goal seemed to awaken SAF FC, who are the reigning Singapore Cup and League Cup champions, from their slumber and they slowly started getting into the game. With Ahmad Latif and Therdsak Chaiman assert their authority in midfield and staring the home side of the ball.
DPMM FC captain Pg Salehuddin received his marching orders in the 77th minute and SAF FC's waves of attack intensified after that.
SAF FC reduced the deficit with Therdsak's free-kick in the 87th minute which curled over the DPMM wall and into the back of the net.
In the end though,DPMM's defence held firm and they can now enjoy being on top of the league for the third time this season.
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