Written by: Zack Rahim

Still surging with adrenaline after a roaring crowd helped Brunei DPMM to a 4-1 win over Balestier Khalsa FC on Friday night, Rodrigo Tosi did his best to downplay suggestions he has his eye on the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League Golden Boot award.

The Brazilian midfielder now tops the league’s goal scoring charts with nine goals to his name, two of them coming in the commanding win over Balestier – where Roy O’ Donovan also added a brace to bring his tally to seven.

When asked whether he was keeping count of his strikes, the 30-year-old said that his superb form comes secondary to the team winning games.

“Of course I’m keeping count, but it’s not important that I scored – it’s important we won,” he grinned when asked if he wanted to end the season as the league’s top scorer.

“We’ve had good crowd here (Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan) and they really motivate us to play.

“This result was good revenge for us after losing last year’s League Cup to Balestier,” he added.

Last year’s 4-0 loss to Balestier went a long way in confirming the exit of former coach Vjeran Simunic, but under the tutelage of Steve Kean, DPMM are now looking like genuine title contenders.

Tampines Rovers 1-1 draw with Tanjong Pagar United FC in Friday’s other game handed the initiative back to the Bruneians, but Tosi insisted DPMM should not be concerned about what transpires elsewhere.

“We just have to do our job and not think about the others,” he stated.

Marko Kraljevic’s men more than did their job against DPMM – at least in the first half.

Playing with a high line and looking menacing in the air, Balestier’s downfall came when they let in the opener in the dying seconds of the first half – and they never truly recovered after that.

Tosi’s 60th minute penalty saw Balestier’s shoulders sag even more, and when it was 3-0 nine minutes later when the Brazilian poked home after some confusion in the box after a corner, it was game over.

“We played well in the first half but after their last minute goal in the first half and their second goal later, everything went Brunei’s way,” said Balestier coach Kraljevic.

“It came down to our mental game and when we conceded the goals we went down (mentally).

“But sometimes you win and sometimes you lose – that’s football.”