Written by: Dwyane James

Home United made it two wins out of two in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League after a 3-1 victory over Brunei DPMM at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Friday night.

Stipe Plazibat netted a double to give the Protectors a 2-0 lead at half-time before Rafael Ramazotti pulled one back in the second-half. Faris Ramli then scored a third to seal the win for Home United.

Brunei DPMM had a chance inside the opening minute after Azwan Ali Rahman made a good run into the box, but saw his shot saved by Home United custodian Hassan Sunny.

Faris got a shot away from outside the box in the sixth minute, but it went straight to DPMM goalkeeper Wardun Yussof.

Home were awarded a penalty two minutes later after the Wasps’ French defender Francois Marque tripped Khairul Nizam in the box.

Plazibat then stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards out to give the visitors the lead.

Ramazotti was on target in the 15th minute after heading a cross from the right, but it was comfortably saved by Hassan.

The reigning S.League topscorer got his head on the end of Billy Mehmet’s cross ten minutes later, but Hassan pulled off yet another super stop.

The hosts were forced to make a change in the 31st minute after Marque pulled a muscle, with the Frenchman making way for Yura Indera Putera.

DPMM came close again the next minute, but Reduan Petara’s header at the far post was tipped over by Hassan.

The Protectors extended their lead in the 37th minute after Song Uiyoung sent a nice through ball for Plazibat.

The Croatian forward fended off the onrushing Wardun before slotting the ball into an empty net for his sixth of the season.

The hosts could have pulled one back heading into the break, but Ramazotti missed the target from close range.

The 2015 S.League champions sent on brothers Shahrazen and Adi Said in place of Reduan and Najib Tarif immediately after half-time in search of goals.

Shahrazen got into the action immediately with a shot on target, but Hassan was there to keep his effort out.

Another chance went begging for DPMM in the 49th minute as Hassan produced another glorious save to stop Mehmet.

DPMM finally pulled one back in the 59th minute, as Ramazotti headed home Hendra Azam’s corner from close range.

Mehmet should have got onto the scoresheet and levelled matters nine minutes later, but Hassan dived at full stretch to prevent the former’s shot from going into the bottom corner.

Home eventually got their third in the 76th minute as Faris connected with a low cross from the right at the far post to put the game to bed.

Home United Head Coach Aidil Shahrin: “To win an away game especially against Brunei DPMM is not easy.

“For the past few years, the record is that we have not won here. Today we did it because the players have been putting in a lot of commitment and their fitness is good. Hopefully they will continue from here.”

Brunei DPMM Head Coach Steve Kean: “I’m not looking forward to seeing the statistics. I can count in my mind that we had seven to eight shots on target and we only got one goal. I think they had five on target and ended up with three goals.”

Brunei DPMM: Wardun Yussof (GK), Reduan Petara (Adi Said 46’), Azwan Salleh, Azwan Ali Rahman, Hendra Azam, Billy Mehmet, Najib Tarif (Shahrazen Said 46’), Maududi Hilmi Kasmi, Rosmin Kamis (C), Rafael Ramazotti, Francois Marque (Yura Indera Putera 31’)

Home United: Hassan Sunny (C, GK), Juma’at Jantan, Haziq Azman, Abdil Qaiyyim, Song Uiyoung, Stipe Plazibat, Faris Ramli, Sirina Camara, Khairul Nizam (Aqhari Abdullah 57’), Izzdin Shafiq, Shamil Sharif (Amiruldin Asraf 83’)