DPMM FC’s winless run in the Singapore Premier League 2024/2025 season continued to five games after falling to a 3-0 defeat to Tampines Rovers FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last weekend.
The hosts created the first opportunity of the game as DPMM FC goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski tipped away Japanese forward Seia Kunori’s shot.
Tampines Rovers forward Boris Kopitovic opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a fine low drive following a wonderful assist from the dangerous Kunori.
The Montengerin’s strike marked a century of goals in all football competitions contested in Singapore.
He is also six goals shy away of Singapore football legend Aleksandar Duric of becoming the club’s all time top goal-scorer.
The home side threatened for a second as Naumovski produced a fine save to deny defender Shuya Yamashita fiercely struck free-kick.
It was an element of misfortune for Tampines’ second as an attempted low cross from Glenn Kweh took a big deflection off Nurikhwan Othman for an own goal. The Stags seemed certain to inflict more damage but Kopitovic slammed his shot against the crossbar after Faris Ramli had laid the ball to him before the busy Naumovski kept out Kunori on the rebound.
Tampines star Yasir Hanapi brilliantly unlocked the Brunei defence with a stunning pass to release the advancing Kunori who squared up to Kopitovic.
The clinical finisher was never going to miss as he netted his eighth goal of the season two minutes from time and moved ever closer to the club goal-scoring record.
DPMM FC, who welcomed Jamie McAllister as the new head coach, will look to arrest their slump against Hougang United FC in their next league match at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium this Friday. – Fadhil Yunus
