News • September 22, 2017
Cheetahs Gunning For Double Over DPMM
Hougang United vs Brunei DPMM
(23 September, Saturday, 7.30pm, Hougang Stadium)
Written by: Rashid Sulaiman
Hougang United will look to register back-to-back victories against Brunei DPMM when the two face off again in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League at Hougang Stadium on Saturday night.
The two teams met four days ago in Bandar Seri Begawan with Hougang cruising to a 4-1 win over DPMM. Japanese striker Fumiya Kogure scored a hat-trick while Iqbal Hussain scored the other goal for the visitors.
Rafael Ramazotti netted the consolation goal for the Bruneians as Steve Keanâs side slumped to their 14th loss of the campaign.
It was the Cheetahsâ first win over the Wasps in all competitions since their victory in the 2015 League Cup competition.
Philippe Awâs side are currently sixth in the table on 26 points while Keanâs charges are two position below on five points with only a win and two draws to their name this season.
With the league approaching the end, both sides will be keen to chalk up maximum points and move up the standings.
But if DPMM are to have any chance of coming away with even a point, they have to keep it tight in defence and make their chances count in the final third.
âIn the second half, we changed the system and brought on substitutes. I thought we got a grip of the game,â said Kean after their previous match against Hougang.
âWhen it got to 2-1 we were on the ascendancy but we gave the third goal away which was basically their first cross. We got to deal with it better as that goal then takes the wind out of our sails and gave them a massive lift after we just scored,â added the DPMM head coach.
For Aw, his side did well to tame DPMMâs lanky forward for most of the match and had goalkeeper Khairulhin Khalid to thank for restricting Keanâs team to just one goal.
Ramazotti and co had several chances in the but they were left frustrated as Khairulhin thwarted shots after shots that came his way.
âWe started well and the early goal settled us down. We know Ramazotti is very good in the air but we managed to keep him quiet most parts of the game,â said Aw.
âAt the start of the second half, we had many chances on the break to finish it 3-0, 4-0 but we didnât and kept DPMM alive.
âRamazotti is a good player and scored a good goal but thankfully within a minute we scored the third and it gave us confidence. If it stayed 2-1 for a longer time it would have given us problems,â explained the Hougang head coach.
Both sides will be missing a player through suspension as Hougangâs Antoine Viterale was shown the red card in Bandar Seri Begawan while Azwan Ali will miss out after accumulating a fourth yellow card in the S.League.
Suspensions: Antoine Viterale (Hougang United); Azwan Ali Rahman (Brunei DPMM)
Hougang United – WLLWW
19/09/17 Brunei DPMM 1-4 Hougang United
15/09/17 Hougang United 2-1 Garena Young Lions
09/09/17 Tampines Rovers 5-1 Hougang United
18/08/17 Hougang United 0-1 Geylang International
14/08/17 Nagaworld FC 0-4 Hougang United (RHB Singapore Cup)
Brunei DPMM – LDLLL
19/09/17 Brunei DPMM 1-4 Hougang United
16/09/17 Brunei DPMM 0-1 Albirex Niigata (S)
08/09/17 Brunei DPMM 1-4 Home United
21/08/17 Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Brunei DPMM
16/08/17 Home United 3-1 Brunei DPMM (RHB Singapore Cup)
Head to Head (S.League)
19/09/17 Brunei DPMM 1-4 Hougang United
02/04/17 Brunei DPMM 2-0 Hougang United
26/08/16 Hougang United 1-2 Brunei DPMM
14/05/16 Brunei DPMM 3-2 Hougang United
04/03/16 Hougang United 0-0 Brunei DPMM