Written by: Zack Rahim

Brunei DPMM’s 8-1 win over Woodlands Wellington might have shocked many Great Eastern Yeo’s S.league observers, but Steve Kean is certainly not in awe of what he saw from his players on Tuesday night.

The league leaders drew their last two games and needed a win to stay ahead of the chasing pack, and the result – which was the largest victory by any team this season – was just what the doctor ordered.

“I don’t think it is any surprise with the way we have been training over the past couple of days. The boys looked fresh and sharp,” said Kean of the win which means they will end the second round on top of the table.

“If not for the fantastic goalkeeping (of Ahmadulhaq Che Omar), it could have been double figures.

“I think we showed when we move the ball quickly and play to our strengths, we’re dangerous.

“Overall it was an excellent performance and I think we looked like scoring every time we went forward,” opined the former Blackburn Rovers manager.

The Scotsman went on to praise the attacking trident of Adi Said, Roy O’Donovan and Rodrigo Tosi, saying that with players of their calibre around, goals can come from “everywhere”.

Adi and O’Donovan each bagged a brace in the win, with Tosi also getting on the scoresheet for the 19th time in the league – leading the scoring charts with Albirex’s Kazuki Sakamoto. Adi, meanwhile, has now netted six goals in his last four games for the club.

Kean was just as pleased with his backline, saying that their communication was “excellent” and that it helped build a “platform for the team’s attack”.

Salim Moin, though, was understandably less impressed with what he saw on both ends of the field.

The loss leaves Woodlands 10th in the table and without a chance of playing in the top-half of the third round as one of the six best teams in the 12-team league, but the Woodlands coach knows his men have to pick themselves ahead of Saturday’s game against Harimau Muda.

“It’s very simple. The boys are professionals and they have to learn from their mistakes,” he said when asked what it would take to motivate his players after the loss.

“I’m not satisfied with our performance but we knew it was not going to be easy.

“Congratulations to DPMM FC. We gave them too much room. They had the desire… and were really hungry. They have a good fitness level and are compact.

“We will take this as a lesson and go back to Singapore and try to do something.”