Written by: Dwayne James

Brunei DPMM stayed in the hunt for a second place finish in the Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League after a 3-1 victory over Home United on Friday evening.

Paulo Sergio, Rafael Ramazotti and Brian McLean all found the back of the net for DPMM while Ken Ilso scored the consolation for the Protectors at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

DPMM were the better side in the opening half and should have got in front in the 10th minute but Azwan Salleh’s powerful shot from 25 yards out was denied by the right post.

Ramazotti was close to an opener in the 36th minute but his effort was cleared off the line by Shamil Sharif.The Brunei side then scored off the ensuing corner with Sergio poking home from inside the six-yard box.

DPMM should have built a sizeable lead going into halftime but Ramazotti couldn’t convert several chances.

Home came back onto the pitch looking a different side after the interval and were in control much of the second half.

The visitors should have equalised in the 52nd minute after Ilso fired from inside the box but was parried away by DPMM custodian Wardun Yussof. The rebound fell for Azhar Sairudin but he couldn’t place his effort on target.

Ilso remained a handful and was on target 10 minutes later with his freekick from 25 yards out heading into the bottom right corner but Wardun kept it out.

The turning point came in the 71st minute after a mistake by the Protectors goalkeeper Eko Pradana as he conceded a penalty after bringing down Ramazotti having been dispossessed by the Brazilian forward. Ramazotti then stepped up to convert his 17th goal of the campaign to make it 2-0.

DPMM then had three points in the bag after McLean headed home at the far post off a Hendra Azam corner five minutes later.

The Protectors did get a consolation with Ilso netting from the spot after Reduan Hj Petara gave away a penalty for bringing down Mahathir Azeman in the 83rd minute.

The visitors were made to finish the game with 10 men having used all their substitutions with Ilso dislocating his right shoulder in the 87th minute.

Brunei DPMM FC coach Steve Kean: “It was a strange game because it was against a run of play that we scored. In the first half near the end we got 4-5 corners where we were unlucky Rafa didn’t score.”

“That is when we were ahead but couldn’t score. When they were ahead we scored and it is a good thing if you can score on a run of play. After the third goal I felt that the points are ours even though we were nervy after they scored.”

Home United FC coach Aidil Sharin: “In the first half, we were not playing well but in the second half we started very well. We dominated the game and had a few chances till the penalty. It brought the morale down a bit but I still I got to salute my players. From three down they still came back and still fighting even with 10 men.”

Brunei DPMM: Wardun Yussof (GK), Brian McLean, Azwan Salleh, Azwan Ali Rahman (Shahrazen Said 71’), Paulo Sergio (Maududi Hilmi Kasmi 52’) , Hendra Azam, Najib Tarif, Rosmin Kamis (C), Aminuddin Zakwan, Rafael Ramazotti, Yura Indera Putera (Reduan Hj Petara 60’)

Home United: Eko Pradana (GK), Redzwan Atan (Sufianto Salleh 45’), Song Uiyong, Juma’at Jantan (C), Azhar Sairudin (Khairul Nizam 64’), Ken Ilso, Faris Ramli, Sirina Camara, Haziq Azman, Shamil Sharif (Mahathir Azeman 81’),  Syahiran Miswan