| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC’s winless drought in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S League continued as Tampines Rovers FC heralded a winning return to the Our Tampines Hub in Singapore with a 2-0 victory last night.
The S League strugglers are now 10 games without a league win while the high-flying Stags leapfrogged Home United into second place.
The hosts started the brighter of the two sides after Shakir Hamzah tested Mu’izzuddin Ismail with a shot from the tip of the penalty box but the DPMM FC goalkeeper caught the ball comfortably.
A cross found Shahrazen Said but could not connect with the ball as the danger was swept away for the hosts.
The hosts fashioned a good chance in the 9th minute when defender Madhu Mohana laid the ball for Ryutaro Megumi but the latter contrived to fire his shot high and wide.
Soon after Shahrazen’s attempted diagonal ball was cleared in what appeared to be from the back of Daniel Bennett’s head, the Stags broke clear and a pass intended for Fazrul Nawaz was intervened by defender Hanif Hamir who did good covering on the flanks.
Chilean import Daud Gazale showed flashes of individual brilliance with his silky footwork on both ends of the pitch which illustrated another form of threat for the Brunei-based outfit.
Adi Said invited Fazrul to commit a foul with the former receiving a telling-off from the referee and nothing more and the subsequent free-kick was met with less harm for the hosts.
It was the perfect start to Tampines’s homecoming as Shakir Hamzah earned the honour as the first player to score in their return to the Our Tampines Hub in the 27th minute.
Bennett booted a hopeful ball forward which was perfectly cushioned down by Nawaz and with Mu’izzuddin committed in no man’s land; Shakir brilliantly lobbed the ball to an empty net.
Megumi burst his way into the box but Najib Tarif was well positioned to block the cross for a corner.
The visitors showed intent in the second half to double the lead as Hafiz Sujad unleashed a rasping effort which Mu’izzuddin parried away to safety.
Megumi showed threat with a cross into the area but no-one was on hand to tap the ball home.
DPMM FC’s defender Hazwan Hamzah was awarded a yellow card for a bookable offence following a dangerous tackle in the 54th minute.
Adi unleashed a fine effort from 20 yards for the ‘Gegar Gegar’ men which forced Tampines goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud into a full length save.
Tampines midfielder Ismadi Mukhtar delivered a teasing cross but Nawaz’s header flew past the post after the hour mark.
Minutes after entering the fray as a second-half substitute, striker Ivan Dzoni won his side a penalty as Shahdan Sulaiman easily converted to give them a two-goal cushion in the 83rd minute.
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