DPMM FC slipped to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Tanjong Pagar United FC in the Singapore Premier League at the Jurong East Stadium in Singapore last night.
The Gegar Gegar men fell to their second defeat of the season after five games despite overturning a two-goal deficit.
The club’s forward Hakeme Yazid Said tried his luck from distance with a free-kick in what was a sign of promise.
However, the flurry of chances fell to Tanjong Pagar since as Sahil Suhaimi saw his shot block off the line by a DPMM FC defender. The Jaguars found space and spotted the run of captain Akram Azman who teed the ball for Shodai Nishikawa but the latter fluffed his lines.
Tanjong Pagar forward Salif Cisse then fired a fine effort which stung the palms of DPMM FC goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
The visitors had been warned and Cisse ripped apart the Bruneian back-line before slotting the ball home past Naumovski for the opening goal of the game.
While DPMM FC lacked inspiration in the final third, Miguel Oliveira underlined his threat after his long range shot bounced off the bottom of the post.
The hosts were close to doubling the lead as defender Faizal Roslan’s point-blank header drew an instinctive reaction save from Naumovski.
The second goal of the game arrived but it was a gift as an emotional Anaqi Ismit capitalised on a defensive error by Nazry Aiman Azaman to slam the ball home.
Oliveira looked to turn the tie single-handedly as he breezed past a few challenges and another long range effort was not far off from goal. There was a shout for handball on the cusp of half-time when Oliveira’s cross was turned away for a corner but it was not given.
Despite little to show for, the visitors stormed to life after Oliveira drilled a low finish into the net in the 52nd minute.
The two-goal cushion suddenly disappeared as Zenivio Mota who was impressively throughout pulled a leg to hack down the tricky Hakeme Yazid.
DPMM FC forward Julio Cruz stepped up to convert the ensuing penalty sending Tampines Rovers goalkeeper Prathip Ekamparam the wrong way.
The hosts found their attacking vitality back as Anaqi’s header forced Naumovski into making a crucial save before Cisse skiied his effort wide. The Brunei-based side had the former North Macedonian international to thank for as he tipped away Shodai’s effort with Cisse busy making a cross down the channel. The home side were not be denied though as Syahadat Masnawi netted the winner five minutes from time.
The result meant DPMM FC slip to fifth and lifted Tanjong Pagar off the foot of the table with their first win of the season. – Fadhil Yunus
