Sunday, November 22, 2015
THIRD time's the charm for DPMM FC as they clinched their maiden Singapore League (S-League) title with a 4-0 victory over Balestier Khalsa FC last night.
Having finished runners-up in 2012 and last year, DPMM FC became only the second foreign side - with Etoile FC of France being the other - to win the competition.
The Brunei side ended their campaign with 52 points while Tampines Rovers FC, who were held to a 1-1 draw against Harimau Muda (Malaysia national under-22 football team) at the Jurong West Stadium in Singapore, will finish second four points back.
Paulo Sergio netted a hat-trick in the first half before Rafael Ramazotti netted one late on, to finish as the league’s topscorer with 21 goals to his name, in the victory at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. DPMM FC coach Steve Kean felt that it was one of the best performances from his charges all season and hailed Sergio for his showing.
“I do (think that is one of the best performances). It is always nice to leave that to the one that really matters,” said Kean after the triumph.
“Not only is he (Sergio) a difference maker, it is his work off the ball. He was absolutely outstanding.
“When you got a player in your team with that quality and got everything, I’m delighted he finished off the season like this,” added the former Blackburn Rovers manager.
When asked on how he summed up the season, Kean replied: “I think we’ve matured a lot as a team. “We are the fittest team, showed tactically and technically we can keep the ball and cause teams problems no matter what they do whether they are physical or they play on the counter attack,” he added.
“We are beginning to understand all of that and we have improved as a club over the past couple of seasons,” continued the Scotsman.
DPMM FC came out firing on all cylinders and grabbed the lead in the 13th minute with Sergio's shot from inside the box deflected off Emir Lotinac past Balestier goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam.
The advantage was doubled five minutes later with Ramazotti sending Sergio through and the Portuguese forward cleverly chipped Zaiful.
Balestier almost pulled one back in the 30th minute with Ignatius Ang firing from 12 yards out but DPMM FC custodian Wardun Yussof was to his equal for a good save.
Ramazotti was sent through on goal in first half injury time and the Brazilian rounded Zailful but Sergio got to the ball first to blast it home to complete his hat-trick.
Sergio had a chance to add to his tally two minutes after the interval but his shot from outside the box went straight to Zaiful.
Skipper Rosmin Hj Md Kamis chipped the ball to send Ramazotti through on goal in the 56th minute but the ball was cleared away by a Balestier defender just before firing from close range.
The Tigers were completely taken out of their stride by the DPMM FC defence and were unable to play their usual long ball tactics.
The hosts held the ball well and completed the rout in the 86th minute with Sergio putting the ball in the middle to see Ramazotti slot home from inside the box.
On the other hand, Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic felt DPMM FC were simply the better team.
“Congratulations to DPMM FC for winning the championship. They deserved it and I think they were the best team in the league this year,” said Kraljevic.
“They were hungrier and had more fighting spirit. They worked really hard and we conceded one goal. We needed to win to finish top three and we opened the game a little which allowed them to get behind us,” he added.
“We lost the ball in the danger area and they scored the second goal. The third goal in the last minute of the first half killed the game.
“We tried passing the ball but it wasn’t working. DPMM FC were sharper and faster than us. They were just the better team,” concluded the Croatian.
DPMM FC will now shift their focus to their Singapore Cup semi-final second leg against Home United FC at the Yishun Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday.
The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2015/11/22/dpmm-fc-triumph
Having finished runners-up in 2012 and last year, DPMM FC became only the second foreign side - with Etoile FC of France being the other - to win the competition.
The Brunei side ended their campaign with 52 points while Tampines Rovers FC, who were held to a 1-1 draw against Harimau Muda (Malaysia national under-22 football team) at the Jurong West Stadium in Singapore, will finish second four points back.
Paulo Sergio netted a hat-trick in the first half before Rafael Ramazotti netted one late on, to finish as the league’s topscorer with 21 goals to his name, in the victory at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. DPMM FC coach Steve Kean felt that it was one of the best performances from his charges all season and hailed Sergio for his showing.
“I do (think that is one of the best performances). It is always nice to leave that to the one that really matters,” said Kean after the triumph.
“Not only is he (Sergio) a difference maker, it is his work off the ball. He was absolutely outstanding.
“When you got a player in your team with that quality and got everything, I’m delighted he finished off the season like this,” added the former Blackburn Rovers manager.
When asked on how he summed up the season, Kean replied: “I think we’ve matured a lot as a team. “We are the fittest team, showed tactically and technically we can keep the ball and cause teams problems no matter what they do whether they are physical or they play on the counter attack,” he added.
“We are beginning to understand all of that and we have improved as a club over the past couple of seasons,” continued the Scotsman.
DPMM FC came out firing on all cylinders and grabbed the lead in the 13th minute with Sergio's shot from inside the box deflected off Emir Lotinac past Balestier goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam.
The advantage was doubled five minutes later with Ramazotti sending Sergio through and the Portuguese forward cleverly chipped Zaiful.
Balestier almost pulled one back in the 30th minute with Ignatius Ang firing from 12 yards out but DPMM FC custodian Wardun Yussof was to his equal for a good save.
Ramazotti was sent through on goal in first half injury time and the Brazilian rounded Zailful but Sergio got to the ball first to blast it home to complete his hat-trick.
Sergio had a chance to add to his tally two minutes after the interval but his shot from outside the box went straight to Zaiful.
Skipper Rosmin Hj Md Kamis chipped the ball to send Ramazotti through on goal in the 56th minute but the ball was cleared away by a Balestier defender just before firing from close range.
The Tigers were completely taken out of their stride by the DPMM FC defence and were unable to play their usual long ball tactics.
The hosts held the ball well and completed the rout in the 86th minute with Sergio putting the ball in the middle to see Ramazotti slot home from inside the box.
On the other hand, Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic felt DPMM FC were simply the better team.
“Congratulations to DPMM FC for winning the championship. They deserved it and I think they were the best team in the league this year,” said Kraljevic.
“They were hungrier and had more fighting spirit. They worked really hard and we conceded one goal. We needed to win to finish top three and we opened the game a little which allowed them to get behind us,” he added.
“We lost the ball in the danger area and they scored the second goal. The third goal in the last minute of the first half killed the game.
“We tried passing the ball but it wasn’t working. DPMM FC were sharper and faster than us. They were just the better team,” concluded the Croatian.
DPMM FC will now shift their focus to their Singapore Cup semi-final second leg against Home United FC at the Yishun Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday.
The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2015/11/22/dpmm-fc-triumph
No comments:
Post a Comment