DPMM FC ended their winless run in the Singapore Premier League with a 4-2 triumph over Geylang International FC in a six-goal thriller at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.
The Brunei-based outfit secured victory for the first time in 10 games since a 4-1 win over Albirex Niigata (S) last May. It also marks a first win for newly-appointed head coach Jamie McAllister since succeeding Rui Capela Batista.
The Gegar Gegar men fired into the lead in the fifth minute as Miguel Oliveira curled home a neat finish first time after a promising drive and clever release from Hakeme Yazid bin Said.
The hosts went close to ripping the Bruneian defence with Vincent Bezecourt pulling the strings in midfield and carving a pass to the on-rushing Syakir Hamzah. Operating as a left-back, Syakir’s ball into the box was swept by an alert DPMM FC goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski with Iqbal Hussain lurking for a shot.
DPMM FC were found culpable of not seizing an opportunity in attack as team captain Farshad Noor could not connect with the ball laid by Oliveira.
Moments later, Julio Cruz did well to set up for a shot which ended well off the mark much to the relief of the Geylang goalkeeper.
Bezecourt was by far Geylang’s most standout performer as he played a stunning ball into the path of the Ryoya Taniguchi which resulted in a corner.
The visitors went 3-0 up as Cruz threaded an inviting pass for Hakeme Yazid who showed composure to produce a clinical finish.
The Eagles fared better in the opening stages of the second half following successive attempts from Hussain and Tomoyuki Doi. The impressive Hakeme Yazid capped an amazing run with a fine effort to make it 4-0, leaving the Geylang defence in a state of confusion.
Just as DPMM FC thought they gained breathing space, Geylang stunned them through a quick-fire brace from Doi.
With Hakeme Yazid taking a short corner, Azwan Salleh floated a hopeful cross into the box as Cruz’s header brought a relatively routine save from Geylang goalkeeper Rudy Khairullah.
Doi should have completed his hat-trick after meeting a ferocious low cross from Syakir Hamzah but the off-balance Japanese skied his effort wide.
As Yura Indera Putera forced a foul on the edge of the box after sending Doi tumbling into the turf, Bezecourt then saw his free-kick dip past the top corner at the end of normal time. – Fadhil Yunus
