The Protectors secured their first league win of the month with a cool 3-1 victory.

Shakir Hamzah celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the match for Home United FC.

SINGAPORE, 26 MAY 2018 – Title-chasing Home United FC got their first win in four Great Eastern-Hyundai Singapore Premier League (SPL) matches after a solid 3-1 success over Brunei DPMM FC at the Bishan Stadium on Saturday night.

Shakir Hamzah’s early goal was cancelled out by Adi Said, but the Protectors reclaimed the lead through Song Ui-young late in the first half before substitute Sirina Camara sealed the points 15 minutes from time.

The result meant Home moved up to fifth with 11 points from eight games while DPMM dropped a position to fourth, with Home ahead due to goal difference.

DPMM started off the more enterprising of the two sides and could have scored after just eight minutes on the clock.

Ukrainian hotshot Volodymyr Priyomov found space to drive in a close-range snapshot after Faizal Roslan had conceded possession in his own half, but his fierce effort was well denied by an alert Rudy Khairullah.

Surviving that let-off, Home would go on to break the deadlock two minutes later.

With DPMM goalkeeper Haimie Nyaring not getting enough distance on his punch to clear Izzdin Shafiq’s cross, Shakir was onto the loose ball in a flash before poking home a neat shot into the bottom right corner.

Aidil Sharin’s men almost made it two on 17 minutes when Shahril Ishak put Song through on goal, but Haimie pulled off a superb reflex save.

DPMM gradually got back into the game and duly levelled matters on the half-hour mark.

A superb ball over the top by Captain Shah Razen Said picked out younger brother Adi, who took a touch to steady himself before firing a crisp left-footed shot into the bottom right corner for his fourth goal of the season.

The Wasps’ joy was short-lived. Five minutes later, with the DPMM defence failing to clear their lines from a corner, Izzdin swung in a superb cross for Song to nod past Haimie from six yards out for his 12th goal in all competitions this season.

DPMM went into the second half with renewed vigour and should have restored parity for a second time nine minutes after the break.

Priyomov looked odds-on to convert from three yards out after being teed up by Adi, but his shot was somehow blocked on the line by Home centre-back Abdil Qaiyyim.

Home were, however, effective on the break and that led to the killer goal.

After initially releasing Shahril, Camara got the perfect return pass from the former and his effort took a wicked deflection off DPMM centre-back Brian McLean to go past a wrongfooted Haimie on 75 minutes.

DPMM face reigning champions Albirex Niigata FC (S) away next Sunday, 3 June, while Home will get some breathing space before hosting Young Lions on Wednesday, 6 June.

WHAT THEY SAID
Home Head Coach Aidil Sharin: “It’s a satisfying win tonight, everyone worked hard and 95 per cent of the team was performing – not just one or two players. They have to believe they can beat any SPL team if they put in the hard work. I’m happy with the defensive part of our game – we didn’t lose concentration like we did in our last three league games and even managed to keep attacking towards the end.

“I’m happy for Suhairi (Sabri, who stepped in for the suspended M. Anumanthan). He only got three days to train, but he did very well for us. It’s not easy for him as he works in the day and it’s the fasting month. It’s a different generation these days, you need to talk to these young players individually and not in front of everyone. My coaches like (assistant) coach Saswa (Saswadimata Dasuki) are doing a good job to help motivate them and improve their mental strength.”

DPMM Head Coach Rene Weber: “I congratulate Home because they have a good team and a good coach; that’s why they’re in the AFC Cup zonal final. But I’m not happy with the referee (Muhd Taqi) tonight. I don’t always talk about the referee, this is perhaps the first and last time I’m talking about this. Referees must be fair all around the world. A yellow card is a yellow card, one guy – Camara – had a yellow and he kicked again; that’s a red card and maybe it would change the result!

“We played good football – side to side – but we didn’t shoot enough… Our next game is a tough one against Albirex. They are a team who should be first because they have 25 foreigners, we have three and the other teams have two.”

Home: Rudy Khairullah (GK), Aqhari Abdullah, Abdil Qaiyyim, Shakir Hamzah, Faizal Roslan, Faritz Hameed (Hafiz Nor 85’), Izzdin Shafiq (C), Suhairi Sabri (Juma’at Jantan 71’), Arshad Shamim (Sirina Camara 52’), Song Ui-young, Shahril Ishak.
Unused subs: Eko Pradana Putra (GK), Amy Recha, Amiruldin Asraf, Christopher Van Huizen.

DPMM: Haimie Nyaring (GK), Helmi Zambin, Reduan Petara (Hanif Hamir 79’), Brian McLean, Suhaimi Sulau, Hendra Azam, Azwan Saleh, Azwan Ali Rahman (Abdul Azizi Rahman 71’), Adi Said, Volodymyr Priyomov, Shah Razen Said (C) (Shafie Efenddy 60’)
Unused subs: Wardun Yussof (GK), Awangku Fakharrazi, Nurikhwan Othman, Yura Indera Putera.

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