Written by: Shawn Lim

Brunei DPMM coach Steve Kean has urged his players to pick themselves up quickly after watching them fall to a surprising 2-1 defeat to Geylang International on Tuesday night at Bedok Stadium.

The Wasps got off to a dream start when Rafael Ramazotti fired them ahead in the 28th minute, but the Eagles stormed back in the second half through goals from Hafiz Nor and Bruno Castanheira to snatch all three points.

The defeat meant that even though DPMM remained at the summit of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League table, they failed to increase the distance between themselves and second-placed Tampines Rovers.

While Kean expressed his disappointment at how the Wasps collapsed in the second half, he also called on his charges to look forward to their two remaining games of the season.

“In the first half, the Geylang players kept getting in between our centre-backs and full-backs,” said the Scot.

“We spoke about that at half-time, making sure that we can try and narrow the gap so that their wide players have to go around us to go through.

“But we switched off very early on in the second half and they managed to get in. We then found it difficult because we were a little bit too open while chasing a goal.

“We still have two games, still have everything to play for and we are disappointed today. We know what we got to improve on and that was the back four display.

“There’s no time to feel sorry, we just need to pick ourselves up, get back to our hotel to do our recovery session tomorrow and when you get a result like that, you hope that the games are coming around quick.

In contrast, Geylang coach Jorg Steinebrunner was effusive in his praise for his players after their surprising come-from-behind victory.

“I was a little loud in the dressing room at half-time in our last game against Home United, but I was less loud this time because I thought we played a decent first half,” said the German.

“We looked defensively good and we had good chances going forward..only thing that was missing in the end was the decisiveness.

“In the first half, we attacked well, with numbers. We attacked well also by having lesser touches and making the game quicker.

“Unfortunately the goal came, in my opinion, it could have been offside, but then again the first half was better than the last week, so I did not need to be so loud.

“So we talked about two, three things at half-time and we were rewarded for our efforts and commitment in the second half.”