SINGAPORE (7 May 2019) – A 2-0 win over Home United this week has allowed DPMM FC to open up a six-point lead at the top of the Singapore Premier League 2019.
Hendra Azam pulled the strings for the leaders as he twice picked out his team-mates with accurate long balls, the first resulting in a glorious curled finish by Abdul Azizi Rahman and the second ruthlessly tucked away by league top scorer Andrei Varankou.
Azwan Ali’s straight red card late on soured the win, though.
In the meantime, the Young Lions picked up their second win in seven matches when they saw off Balestier 1-0 in Bishan.
A clinical finish from Syukri Bashir settled a tight contest between these two teams and helped Fandi Ahmad’s charges exact revenge for an opening-day 4-1 mauling.
Chances were few and far between, with the visitors having the better of the opportunities; Lionel Tan’s well-struck free-kick was saved, while Syed Akmal headed over from six yards.
Saifullah Akbar’s introduction was to prove pivotal as the playmaker, making his return from injury, set up Syukri for a neat turn-and-finish from 14 yards to win the game.
Sufianto Salleh’s red card in the closing stages compounded Balestier’s misery.
On the other hand, Albirex kept up the pressure at the top with a 2-0 win over Geylang.
Albirex took advantage of Muhd Noor Ariff’s dismissal for two yellow cards in the 80th minute to strike two late goals, both brilliantly executed by captain Kyoga Nakamura.
The left-footed maestro curled a glorious finish into the top left corner from 20 yards to break the Eagles’ resistance, before making sure of the three points with a 25-yard rocket that went off the right post as Zainol Gulam watched on helplessly. The win boosted Albirex to second place.
Hougang let slip a lead for the second game running as they threw away a 3-1 advantage to end up sharing the spoils with 10-man Tampines.
Kong Howon broke the deadlock with an easy header off Zulfahmi Arifin’s corner and when Faris Ramli cracked in a second just four minutes after Yasir Hanapi copped a second yellow, it seemed like the Cheetahs were on course for all three points.
But the Stags had other ideas and Ryutaro Megumi set up Shah Shahiran to fire in from a tight angle barely a minute later. Faris hit the bar minutes before bundling in Muhaimin Suhaimi’s cross, but Zehrudin Mehmedović hit back swiftly by tucking away Megumi’s cut-back.
Stipe Plazibat’s failure to put away a one-on-one chance was punished by the hosts, who somehow left Khairul Amri unmarked to tap in Jordan Webb’s low ball. Faris headed a good chance over late on as Clement Teo’s men rued two points dropped.
SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE 2019 Current Standings
| No | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | DPMM | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 23 |
| 2 | Albirex Niigata (S) | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 17 |
| 3 | Hougang United | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 16 |
| 4 | Tampines Rovers | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 13 |
| 5 | Balestier Khalsa | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 11 |
| 6 | Home United | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 10 |
| 7 | Geylang International | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 9 |
| 8 | Young Lions | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 7 |
| 9 | Warriors | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 22 | −14 | 1 |
