| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC ended their calendar year with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Indian Super League outfit FC Goa in a friendly football match organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports with the cooperation of the High Commission of India in Brunei Darussalam at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night.
DPMM FC most prolific foreign import Rafael Ramazotti marked his final appearance for the club with a hat-trick, all coming from headers.
DPMM FC captain Rosmin Kamis opened the scoring while Najib Tarif also added his name in the score-sheet through a fine header.
It was also head coach Steve Kean’s final game in charge for the club having spent four years and famously guided them to the S League title in 2015 having won the Singapore League Cup the previous season.
The first goal for DPMM FC came from an unlikely source as captain Rosmin Kamis found space to steer the ball home from close range.
Azwan Ali Rahman sent a teasing cross into the box as Rosmin Kamis was on hand to collect the loose ball and steered the ball home.
FC Goa’s Rinjoy Fernandes ventured forward and found Yasir Mohammad who laid the ball for Jonathan Caesar Cardozo though it was always going to be a difficult angle for the attacker.
The hosts doubled their lead after Ramazotti nodded home an Azwan Ali’s corner before grabbing his second of the game through a header from yet another assist by Azwan Ali.
Abdul Muiz Si’sa shot inside the box but was blocked by a defender before Ramazotti struck the ball into the back of the net only to be ruled out for offside.
Azwan Salleh sent a fierce drive as visiting goalkeeper Iprotip Das parried the ball away.
The midfielder tried his luck from distance in the 35th minute which sailed just wide.
Azwan Ali also tested visiting goalkeeper Iprotip in the near post but the goalkeeper parried the ball away for a corner.
The winger showed change of pace and direction prompting danger for the visiting defence before setting up Ramazotti who scuffed his shot with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Ramazotti cushioned a header for Azwan Ali but the winger skiied his effort in the box.
However, the resurgent visitors had renewed hope after Enestar Maingiang slotted home after his team-mate had repeated attempts thwarted by the Bruneian defence.
DPMM FC forward Adi Said hit his shot straight to the goalkeeper after being teed off by Ramazotti.
The ‘Gegar Gegar’ men extended their lead further after Mohammad Najib Haji Tarif rose to head home from a corner.
It was apt that the outgoing Ramazotti would have the final say in what ultimately was his last act in a DPMM FC jersey after bagging a hat-trick with another header.
DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean said, “I’ve always got to look at the bigger picture. It is unusual that in this day and age you stay at a club for four years. I would really say that three out of the four years were fantastic.”
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