Written by: Phoon Jia Hui

Brunei DPMM concluded their Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League season with a narrow 2-1 victory over Garena Young Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday night.

Strikes from Azwan Ali Rahman and Rafael Ramazotti rendered Yeo Hai Ngee’s successful penalty conversion inconsequential as the Wasps notched what was only their fifth win of the campaign.

DPMM got off to the best possible start by taking the lead five minutes in when an unmarked Azwan Ali volleyed home from inside the box off Rafael Ramazotti’s knockdown.

 

The hosts would however level matters 16 minutes later when Yeo sent Wardun Yussof the wrong way from the spot after DPMM skipper Rosmin Kamis had given away the penalty.

But DPMM would restore their one-goal cushion just three minutes later, with Ramazotti rising highest to send a looping header over the reach of Hairul Syirhan.

The remainder of the first half petered out though as clear chances were few and far between.

Young Lions head coach Vincent Subramaniam then reacted by bringing on Ryan Syaffiq for Hafiz Sulaiman at the break in an attacking move as he sought for the equaliser.

The visitors would however come close with Azwan poking narrowly over after racing onto Hendra Azam’s lofted pass on 52 minutes.

The hosts then conjured a couple of half-chances at the other end but they were unable to trouble Wardun.

Instead, it was the 2015 S.League winners who could have pulled further away in the 64th minute but Adi Said fired tamely at Hairul after latching onto a slide rule pass.

There was one final chance for the developmental side to salvage a point but substitute Taufik Suparno headed inches wide after capitalising on a defensive lapse.

The result meant DPMM finished 2017 in eighth with 17 points while Young Lions lie a spot below with six points to their name.

 

Garena Young Lions Head Coach Vincent Subramaniam: “We thought we could finish off the season with at least a draw but failed to do that. However, the boys performed well; they were getting their passes right instead of hoofing the balls up.

“We managed to press DPMM in the second half and it was good to see. We didn’t press them from the start because we knew it would take a lot from us if we had done that.

“I’m pleased with the progress I’ve seen from the boys since taking over (two months ago) and I hope most of them will get contracts with the other S.League clubs for 2018.”

Brunei DPMM Head Coach Steve Kean: “It was good to finish off the season with a win today especially for a club who’s had to endure a disappointing 2017.

“We put ourselves under a bit of pressure in the second half with too many backward and square passes which allowed Young Lions a chance to press us. Also, we should have been bold by getting behind the full-backs and provide the service for our twin strikers – something we didn’t do in the second half.

“The other two foreign imports (Daud Gazale and Vincent Salas) have already left Brunei but Rafael (Ramazotti)’s the type of player who wants to stay and try get another goal. The good thing from my point of view is that each local player at the club is a lot better as compared to than where they were four years ago when I first came so I’m happy with that.”

Garena Young Lions: Hairul Syirhan (GK), Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Shahrin Saberin (Shameer Aziq 73’), Faizal Roslan (C), Hafiz Sulaiman (Ryan Syaffiq 46’), Amirul Adli, Ammirul Emmran (Taufik Suparno 55’), Yeo Hai Ngee, Hami Syahin, Syahrul Sazali, Muhaimin Suhaimi

Brunei DPMM: Wardun Yussof (GK), Helmi Zambin, Hazwan Hamzah, Rosmin Kamis (C), Abdul Mu’iz Sisa, Yura Indera Putera (Nurikhwan Othman 65’), Azwan Ali Rahman, Adi Said (Shahrazen Said 72’), Azwan Saleh (Azim Izamuddin 65’), Hendra Azam, Rafael Ramazotti