BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (19 March 2016) – Tampines Rovers ended Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League defending champions Brunei DPMM perfect home record on Saturday night at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, after handing the hosts a 2-1 defeat.
The Wasps’ two wins so far this season had been achieved on home soil and they were looking for a third consecutive home victory coming into the game, but two quick-fire goals from Billy Mehmet and Jordan Webb in the first-half meant that they spent the rest of the game trying to salvage a point.
Rafael Ramazotti grabbed one back for the hosts in the second period, but it proved to be mere consolation even though the Stags were made to defend for the final 20 minutes of the game after Afiq Yunos was sent off for his second booking of the night.
The visitors came out firing on all cylinders and broke the deadlock in the fourth minute after Mehmet headed home a cross from Christopher Van Huizen.
DPMM almost equalised four minutes later, but Ramazotti could only watch his header bounce just wide of the mark.
Instead, the Stags doubled their advantage in the 15th minute from a set-piece. Van Huizen fired in a free-kick from the left for Webb to head past DPMM shotstopper Wardun Yussof.
Paulo Sergio managed to split the Tampines defence with a good chip in the 25th minute to send Azwan Salleh through, but Izwan was there to deny him.
Brian McLean got on the end of the ensuing corner but the ball landed on top of the net.
Sergio almost made Tampines pay after gifting the ball away in their own half two minutes later, but the Portuguese forward fired just wide from the edge of the box.
Tampines should have added another goal to their tally in the 38th minute after Webb and Fazrul Nawaz played a neat one-two for the latter to pull back for Van Huizen, who was denied by Wardun.
The hosts could have gone into the break with only a goal down, but Azwan Ali couldn’t place his shot at the far post on target in the 44th minute.
Shahrazen Said and Najib Tarif were sent on after half-time in place of Maududi Kasmi and Sairol Sahari respectively in search for more attacking options.
Ramazotti took a shot on the turn from inside the box in the 54th minute, but the Brazilian’s shot went straight to Izwan.
DPMM pulled one back five minutes later after Ramazotti headed home Sergio’s free-kick from the left.
Tampines were made to defend against the Wasps onslaught and to make matters worse, Afiq was sent off for his second yellow card in the 71st minute after fouling Sergio during a counter-attack.
The Wasps almost equalised in the 86th minute after a good ball by Nur Ikhwan Othman into the box was headed by Azwan Ali towards the bottom right corner, but Izwan dived down to keep the ball out.
Nur Ikhwan tried one from range a minutes later but Izwan did well to catch his effort, before Singapore No. 1 goalkeeper ensured his side took home all three points by denying Azwan Ali from inside the box in the 90th minute.
Tampines Rovers coach V. Sundramoorthy: “We had around 15 more minutes (after the red card). Tactically we needed to change something so I brought on Mustafic to stabilise with his experience behind as he can hold the fort.
“We removed one striker and played with only one. The boys have done well especially my goalkeeper. He made two great saves and that’s the most important thing.”
Brunei DPMM coach Steve Kean: “We didn’t perform, we didn’t pass and we didn’t have any tempo about our play in the first half. We made changes (at halftime) but I could have taken anybody off.
“I would say the whole team was playing under par. On the flipside, we are a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde team in this match where we were excellent in the second half. We took the game to Tampines and created chances.
“They were only holding on at the end and any team that is going to score, it was looking like us. I believe if we got a goal we would have gone on to get a third goal.”
SOURCE: www.sleague.com
