DPMM FC Go Down Fighting
By Alex How

Bandar Seri Begawan - Ten-man Brunei DPMM FC suffered a 3-2 loss to UPB/ MyTeam at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium yesterday morning.

Two goals from Sasa Branezac ofUPB/MyTeam, apiece each half, were enough to hold off the pressure from the home team. The game also saw Fadlin Galawat being sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

Brunei DPMM FC took an early chance when their experienced striker Fadlin Galawat won a free-kick 30 metres from the goal. Mohd Azwan Md Salleh quickly followed a deflection off skipper Rosmin Hj Md Kamis' freekick but was denied by UPB/MyTeam's keeper Syed Adney Syed Hussein.

UPB/MyTeam's first chance came minutes later and turned out to be a goal. Arumugam AL Ramasamy took the lead in the 12th minute after he stole the ball from Brunei DPMM FC's Francois Mpessa at the edge of the penalty box.

Mpessa tried to control a back-pass from his teammate but his first touch was too far away from him.

Despite being pressured by UPB/MyTeam, the home team did not wait too long and got the equaliser five minutes later.

Mpessa chested down a rebound from teammate Mohd Shahrazen Said's header off the bar and volleyed it to the roof of the net to level 1-1 in the 17th minute.

Undeterred by the equaliser, UPB/ MyTeam stepped up a gear and pressed forward to find a goal. Mohd Haris Safwan bin Md Kamal almost took the lead when he headed wide a Miljan Radovic's freekick in the 25th minute. The visitors finally took the lead in the 35th minute when Branezac released by his teammate Mohd Haris Safwan hit it low to lead 2-1.

Back from injury, Mohd Shahrazen Said did not show any sign of lack of match fitness and continued to impress the crowd upfront alongside Fadlin. Mohd Shahrazen Said freed himself from his marker outside the box and tried a long shot. But the top scorer last season could not keep it low in the 40th minute.

Coach Iordan Stoykov made a tactical change and brought in a flair player Jaganathan AL Arphutorajoo for Mohd Helmi Panjang. The new import blended himself well in the team and created a chance for his team.

Jaganathan changed his pace to beat a defender and sent in a low cross to Fadlin. But UPB/MyTeam's skipper Khainnisam Sahabudin Hussain was quick to spot the danger and cleared it away.

Fadlin had another chance in the 50th minute when he was found by Rosmin in the penalty box. Fadlin controlled the cross well but sent it to the side netting. Minutes earlier, defender Abdel Hakim El-Bahloul almost scored when he headed wide a Rosmin's free kick.

Brunei DPMM FC were later caught off guard. UPB/MyTeam launched a counter attack through Azmi Muslim down the left. Azmi crossed in deep from the left and found the unmarked Branezac who blasted in to make it 3-1 in the 53rd minute.

After several attempts upfront, the home team finally pulled one back through a brilliant one-two between Rosmin and Fadlin.

Fadlin held off his marker and passed the ball back to the running skipper. Rosmin kept his cool and hit it 3-2 in the 77th minute.

The home team saw a last piece of action from Jaganathan when he beat three players in injury time. Jaganathan pulled the trigger six yards from goal only to see it deflected off the keeper.

Brunei DPMM FC will play against UPB/MyTeam away at MPJ Stadium on Feb 12. Fadlin will be suspended for the away game but the team will welcome back Tiago Dos Santos who has served his one game suspension.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with