DPMM FC got their Singapore Premier League (SPL) 2024/2025 season campaign off to a winning start after defeating Young Lions 2-1 at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.
The Brunei-based outfit conjured an attack from the counter as new signing Miguel Oliveira squeezed in a shot from a difficult angle which Young Lions goalkeeper Travis Ang had it covered.
The hosts, looking for a first win against DPMM FC in 27 meetings, opened the scoring after captain Farhan Zulkifli finished from close range following a header by Itsuki Enomoto in the 19th minute. However, Oliveira marked his debut appearance with a goal finding the near post after Farshad Noor slipped through a neat pass just three minutes later.
The Gegar Gegar men took the lead as Yura Indera Putera nodded home after connecting from a decent cross by his centre-back partner Patrick Flottmann.
Flottmann, another debutant, was then allowed a free header which sailed harmlessly wide before Ang tipped the ball away for a corner after Farshad Noor’s effort rebounded off a defender.
The Young Lions number one choice goalkeeper was saved from embarrassment after Gama struck an ambitious effort from the halfway line as a misplaced pass nearly proved costly.
The Young Lions started the second half on a positive note as Farhan’s directness into the box enabled him to squeeze a shot in which DPMM FC goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski parried away to safety.
The hosts could have drawn level had it not been for a great save from Naumovski who denied a certain goal by Farhan following a cutback from Fairuz Fazli.
Donning their familiar yellow and black away strip, DPMM FC could have killed the tie after a good link-up play by Gama and Oliveira but Jun Kobayashi came to his team’s rescue with a crucial block. – Fadhil Yunus
