Fadhil Yunus
DPMM FC suffered their fifth defeat of the campaign in the Singapore Premier League after losing to Tampines Rovers 2-0 at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Thursday.
The hosts sent a signal of intent early in the game as Japanese forward Kyoga Nakamura rolled his shot straight into DPMM FC shot-stopper Haimie anak Nyaring.
It marked a century of shots in the league this season highlighted by the offensive threat of clubs.
Tampines Rovers forward Boris Kopitovic had nowhere to go with three defenders marking him closely but his crucial pass to Ong Yu En proved a major development in the game.
The under-21 talent took a massive deflection off a DPMM FC defender to gift his side the opening goal in the seventh minute.
Within a couple of minutes, the Stags doubled their lead as captain Yasir Hanapi’s shot slipped past Haimie in the near post.
Tampines quickly broke on the counter with Faris Ramli driving forward with purpose to set up Kopitovic whose shot was blocked by DPMM FC’s Najib Tarif.
The Gegar Gegar men had their best opportunity of the game as a header from Josip Balic came off the woodwork after Hakeme Yazid Said had put the ball back into the box.
The Brunei outfit showed attacking vigour as Andrei Varankou headed straight a Hakeme Yazid’s delivery at Tampines Rovers goalkeeper Ridhuan Barudin.
The visitors were awarded a penalty and an opportunity to reduce arrears following a handball from substitute Syed Firdaus Hassan but Varankou somehow blasted his shot wide.
DPMM FC missed the chance to leapfrog Tanjong Pagar into sixth while Tampines Rovers moved within a point off league leaders Albirex Niigata (S).
