| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC reduced the gap with second-placed Tampines Rovers to seven points after a 2-0 win in the Singapore Premier League at the Our Tampines Hub in Singapore last night.
Home United’s win over Warriors FC meant that it was not enough to climb to third place but they pulled five points clear of fifth-placed Balestier Khalsa with three games in hand.
The Brunei-based outfit also enjoyed their first clean sheet this season as they extended their unbeaten run to four games including three on their travels.
The ‘Gegar Gegar’ men also dented Tampines’s hopes of staying on course for the title race especially with Albirex Niigata (S) capturing all three points against Hougang United.
DPMM FC forward Volodymyr Prrymov reached double digits this season with the opening goal of the game before adding cushion to his side with a 49th minute penalty.
The visitors, spearheaded by the attacking trio, punished the futile Stags in a devastating counter-attack move initiated by a clever ball from Mojtaba Mollasaraei into the path of Adi Said who immaculately squared the ball to Volodymyr Prrymov.
After news filtered that Geylang had taken the lead against Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium and Albirex’s lead against Hougang ramping the pressure in the context of the title race, the Ukrainian forward coolly rifled his shot into the top corner at a third venue.
Adi Said’s change of pace on the flanks allowed him space to whip in a cross and Shameer Aziq handled the ball right in front of the referee who without hesitation pointed to the spot.
Pryymov showed composure and sent goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari the wrong way for his second of the game four minutes after the interval.
With their slim title hopes fast disappearing, Tampines went for broke after withdrawing defender Daniel Bennett for the attacking-minded Fazrul Nawaz.
Tampines forward Khairul Amri wasted a glorious chance to hand his team a lifeline after a perfectly drilled free-kick routine with Yasir Hanapi lifting the ball to Fazrul who picked an unmarked Khairul.
Tampines midfielder Ryutaro Megumi, who has been identified as a threat from DPMM FC head coach Rene Weber, saw his tame effort comfortably saved by Haimie Anak Nyaring.
Khairul then curled his shot from a distance which narrowly missed the bottom corner.
DPMM FC’s Helmi Zambin had kept Tampines star Jordan Webb quiet and demonstrated his defensive duties even late towards the game by shutting the winger with a timely block.
Tampines were awarded a late penalty after a charging Jordan was adjudged to have been brought down by Helmi.
However, Tampines drew a blank only for the second time of the season after Fazrul blasted his penalty wide.