News • April 21, 2017
Eagles Soar With Victory Over DPMM
Written by: Phoon Jia Hui
Geylang International notched their second win on the trot in the 2017 Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Brunei DPMM at the Bedok Stadium on Thursday night.
Geylang started the match brightly and got their noses in front after 13 minutes with an unmarked Shahfiq blasting home from close range after a cutback from Stanely Ng.
The visitors could have levelled matters three minutes later but Yura Indera Putera could only send a header straight at Syazwan Buhari.
At the other end, Rafael Ramazotti had the ball in the net after nodding home from a set-piece but it was ruled out for offside.
Ramazotti could have reduced the deficit for the Wasps on the stroke of half-time when he rose highest to meet a corner but headed over the bar instead.
Billy Mehmet stung the palms of Syazwan three minutes after the restart but it was Geylang who extended their advantage in the 52nd minute.
After Shahfiq was brought down by Yura in the box, Coto stepped up to convert the resulting penalty for his second goal of the season.
Seven minutes later, Ramazotti was set up by Azwan Ali Rahman inside the box but Anders Aplin put in a vital last-ditch block to deny the Brazilian forward.
Azwan then nearly pulled one back for the Wasps fifteen minutes from time with a dipping effort but Syazwan did well to recover and tip the ball over for a corner.
Substitute Shawal Anuar fired over in the closing stages but it mattered little as Hasrin Jailaniâs side collected all three points that were on offer.
DPMM will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Tampines Rovers on Apr 28 while Geylang face another tough test in the form of Home at the Bishan Stadium in another match played on the same day.
Geylang International Head Coach Hasrin Jailani: âEveryone did well today, we more or less controlled the game today and did very well defensively. We knew they have two tall strikers and we managed to close them down, but at the same time we could not afford to let their players go down the flanks.
âI feel relieved at the end of the day but thereâs still a long way to go. Weâve got another two games to finish off first round. Most importantly, the win helped boost the confidence of the team.â
Brunei DPMM Head Coach Steve Kean: âI thought we gave away the two goals. To be honest, the first goal from the touchline was too easy and the second, the defender (Yura) should learn that he has to clear at first opportunity.
âI felt certain parts of the game we gave Geylang too much time on the ball and we should do better (in that aspect). We have to adapt our tactics according to the opposition but now itâs back home and back to hard work.â
Geylang International: Syazwan Buhari (GK), Darren Teh, Anders Aplin, Yuki Ichikawa, Al-Qaasimy Rahman, Ricardo Sendra (Amy Recha 53â), Isa Halim (C), Safirul Sulaiman, Stanely Ng (Shawal Anuar 71â), Shahfiq Ghani (Gabriel Quak 81â), Victor Coto
Brunei DPMM: Wardun Yussof (GK), Rosmin Kamis (C), Zeljko Savic, Yura Indera Putera, Maududi Hilmi Kasmi, Azwan Ali Rahman, Nurikhwan Othman (Azim Izamuddin 71â), Hendra Azam (Azwan Saleh 71â), Najib Tarif, Billy Mehmet, Rafael Ramazotti