Written by: Ryan Low

Brunei DPMM vs Albirex Niigata (S)

(Friday, 5 Aug, 8.15pm, Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium)

Barely a week after both sides met in The New Paper (TNP) League Cup final, Brunei DPMM and Albirex Niigata (S) will face off again in the Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium on Friday night.

The White Swans ran out 2-0 winners that evening courtesy of goals from Rui Kumada and Atsushi Kawata, successfully retaining their League Cup crown in the process.

DPMM must be sick of facing Naoki Naruo’s slick outfit as it was their third successive defeat in as many head-to-head encounters this season. Yet fate would have it that the two foreign outfits will play each other again so soon after.

Gunning for their first-ever league title, Albirex will be looking to resume normal service after seeing their 10-match winning run stemmed by Tampines just before the five-week break for the RHB Singapore Cup quarter-finals and the TNP League Cup tournament.

With the Stags breathing down their necks – just four points behind, the all-Japanese outfit ought to put together another consistent run of results to attain their aspirations.

While Albirex have the psychological edge over the Wasps so far in 2016, the current league leaders should not take another victory for granted.

DPMM are slowly, but surely rediscovering the swagger that saw them win the title last year. A switch to a three-man defence have worked a treat for Steve Kean’s side as they kept three shutouts in five League Cup games – after just one clean sheet in 16 league matches this season.

At the other end, Adi Said have also stepped up the plate with two goals and two assists in the League Cup – proving to be a good foil for the attacking duo of Paulo Sergio and Rafael Ramazotti.

Thus there is enough reason for them to be optimistic of bucking the recent losing trend against their Japanese visitors.

DPMM will certainly be looking to forget what happened in their last meeting at Bandar Seri Begawan, where they let slip a one-goal lead in the final 18 minutes to lose 1-2.

A good result will give the defending champions a morale-booster as they look to stave off Home United, Hougang United, Geylang International and Warriors FC in the five-way fight to finish in the top three.

Brunei DPMM – WWWWL

30/07/16  Brunei DPMM 0-2 Albirex Niigata (S) (League Cup)

26/07/16  Brunei DPMM 1-0 Home United (League Cup)

21/07/16  Brunei DPMM 2-1 Tampines Rovers (League Cup)

17/07/16  Hougang United 0-2 Brunei DPMM (League Cup)

13/07/16  Brunei DPMM 4-0 Warriors FC (League Cup)

Albirex Niigata (S) – WWWWW

30/07/16   Brunei DPMM 0-2 Albirex Niigata (S) (League Cup)

26/07/16   Albirex Niigata (S) 4-0 Tampines Rovers (League Cup)

22/07/16  Geylang International 1-0 Albirex Niigata (S) (League Cup)

18/07/16  Albirex Niigata (S) 2-0 Balestier Khalsa (League Cup)

14/07/16  Home United 0-2 Albirex Niigata (S) (League Cup)