Written by: Dwayne James

Home United FC extended their unbeaten run in the Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League to eight games after a nail biting 4-4 draw against leaders Brunei DPMM.

The Protectors looked down and out facing a two-goal deficit with 10 minutes left before a three-goal blitz in a span of five minutes allowed them to at least get something out of the match at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

The result also meant that league leaders DPMM have failed to beat Home United in all three league encounters this season.

Ken Ilso continued his fine form and notched a hat-trick, while substitute Imran Shahib scored the other for the Protectors.

For DPMM, Rafael Ramazotti bagged a double while both Paulo Sergio and Maududi Hilmi Kasmi also got their names on the scoresheet.

The hosts started the game brightly and Home goalkeeper Hyrulnizam Juma’at had to keep out a Sergio freekick from the edge of the box in the fifth minute.

Ramazotti was put through in the 17th minute but fired wide from a one-on-one situation against Hyrulnizam.

The Protectors got their first attempt on target four minutes later through Ilso inside the box but it went straight to DPMM custodian Wardun Yussof.

DPMM gave the ball away cheaply in midfield and allowed Azhar Sairudin to get a shot off inside the box in the 34th minute, but Wardun dealt with it comfortably.

The Brunei side finally broke the deadlock after Joe Gamble put Sergio through to fire past Hyrulnizam in the 49th minute.

The advantage was short-lived as Ilso put the ball past Wardun to reply for Home just three minutes later.

DPMM regained the lead in the 64th minute with Ramazotti converting from the spot after a handball incident.

The league leaders looked set for all three points in the 79th minute with Ramazotti finding the net again from inside the box, bringing his tally to a league-high 16 goals.

But Ilso gave Home United a lifeline four minutes later after beating Wardun off a free-kick from the left side of the box.

The game was levelled with the Dane notching his hat-trick in the 86th minute.

With DPMM left shell-shocked, Home United grabbed the lead for the first time with Imran netting from close range two minutes later.

However, the home side replied immediately from the restart with Azwan Ali Rahman setting up Maududi to blast past Hyrulnizam, as both teams were inseparable for the third time this season.