DPMM FC too good for Balestier

AN UNLIKELY goal from Rene Komar a minute from time sealed three points for DPMM FC in their 2-0 win against Balestier Khalsa FC in the Singapore League last night.

Not for the first time this season, the Croatian defender looked totally at ease marauding up the middle of the park, dribbling the ball past two Balestier defenders with skill and scoring with a low shot after watching midfielder Muhd Maududi Hilmi Kasmi miss the initial attempt sending the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas into frenzy.

The goal, which was one of the few bright spots of a dreary second half, even had goalkeeper Wardun Yussof running the length of the field to join in the celebration.

After striker Shahrazen Hj Md Said scored with a well-placed header off a Hardi Bujang corner in the 10th minute, in what was the team's first attempt on goal, it looked like the hosts would be in for a stroll in the park against the bottom of the table visitors.

But that was far from the truth, with Balestier's defence proving up to the challenge although the team could hardly mustered a shot on target all night.

Hardi's corner was probably his biggest contribution of the game, the midfielder given the start in the place of suspended Azwan Salleh, whose ball-winning ability was deeply missed.

Striker Oh Ddog-Yi forced Lee Heng Huat in between the Balestier posts into making a spectacular save in the 20th minute, the South Korean doing well to control a cross-field pass from Hj Muhd Subhi Abdilah Bakir and evade his marker to set up the shot.

DPMM FC did a good job of tirelessly pressuring their opponents when they lost the ball, and indeed, the side coached by Nasaruddin Jalil would find it hard to string passes together in the first half.

Limited to attempts from outside the box, their chances hardly troubled Wardun the hero during the team's penalty shoot-out win in the Singapore League Cup final last month.

One of the talking points of the game was the battle between right-back Yussof Salleh and Brazilian striker Ednardo Souza, the latter bearing the brunt of the abuse from the home fans.

Booed every time he touched the ball, the tricky Brazilian was one of his team's best players going forward but found little support on the attack.

Nasaruddin's half-time team talk must have done the trick because Balestier came out the second half a different team, winning more 50/50 balls and managing to keep possession for longer periods.

Muhd Maududi's inclusion into the game for Hardi in the 57th minute must have been a decision by DPMM FC head coach Vjeran Simunic to do something about winning the midfield battle, but the diminutive midfielder was hardly the man for the job.

The team continued to lose the ball far too easily and their passing lacked quality, with even the ever-reliable midfielder Sairol Hj Sahri committing an uncharacteristic number of mistakes.

A back-heeled pass from Sairol in the 65th minute which opened space for striker Abdel Hamid Berguiga inside the box got the crowd on their feet for the first time in the second half, but they were soon down at their seats after the pass was ruled offside.

Souza had a chance to threaten Wardun with a free-kick two minutes later but the wall did their job, as in the first half when Chilean midfielder Julio Eduardo saw his shot fail to clear.

Eduardo's free-kick in the 75th minute was the team's best chance but it sailed just inches wide of the right post, though it certainly had Wardun worried.

Balestier's poor finishes look to be the reason they languish at the bottom of the 11-team table, with all their shots last night going wide of the post in both halves.

Oh had a chance to make it 2-0 but his header went the wrong side of the bar in the 87th minute, epitomising a frustrating second half for the home side.

Some of the fans started leaving their seats but they were to regret it when Komar took charge a minute from time, coming up with a strong run which eventually led to the goal.

Substitute Suhaime Yussof capped off a stunning counter-attack on the right flank by dribbling past his defender and forcing Lee into a save in the 91st minute, with Berguiga dazzling the crowd with some fancy footwork in the box a minute later which should have led to a shot on goal.

Despite the less than convincing victory, Simunic was not complaining.

"I am satisfied with the result though we did not play very well," said Simunic

"But it is three points and we now look forward to our next game though once again we will be without one of our key players since Berguiga picked up a yellow card.

"We really missed Azwan and midfielder Ivan Jerkovic today (Wednesday). It was just Bobby (Rosmin Kamis) doing all the work in midfield.

"I am happy with Rene's goal but to be honest I would have preferred Dodi (Muhd Maududi) to score. It is not easy for a little guy like him but he came into the game with big emotion," added thecoach.

The win was enough for DPMM FC to overtake Gombak United FC in the standings, and they now lie just one point away from defending champions Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) FC, who have 36 points.

The team's next game is against Sengkang Punggol FC at the Hougang Stadium in Singapore on Monday.

The Brunei Times