| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC kept up their hopes of a runners-up finish in the Singapore Premier League alive after coming back from a goal down to win 2-1 against Warriors FC at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore last night.
The ‘Gegar-Gegar’ men trail second-placed Tampines Rovers FC and Home United FC – who sit in third place via an inferior goal difference – by five points with a game in hand.
Warriors defender Kento Fukuda gifted the home side the lead in the 34th minute but Volodymyr Priyomov ensured that the visitors went into the break on level terms.
The Ukrainian striker added a second in the 71st minute to pull his side into the lead amid suspicions of offside.
Azwan Ali Rahman hoisted a great ball into the box and Shah Razen Said flicked his header into the path of Abdul Aziz bin Tamit but the centre back missed a sitter from point blank range with the goal at his mercy. DPMM FC forward Adi Said then followed up the horror miss with a fierce strike as good defending from the hosts led to a corner kick.
It was the perfect set-piece move for Warriors FC as Shamil Sharif delivered a pinpoint cross to Khairul Nizam whose cushioned header met Fukuda at the near post. The Japanese went sliding in for a good finish for his fourth goal of the season.
The visitors equalised after an unmarked Priyomov connected a fine cross from Azwan Ali with a neat header.
Moments later, Adi lets fly an ambitious attempt from distance which Warriors FC goalkeeper Mukundan Maran saved well in unorthodox fashion and Shah Razen could not keep his shot down with the rebound.
Warriors FC forward Fadhil Noh unleashed a ferocious strike from range but DPMM FC goalkeeper Haimie Anak Nyaring was equal to the task deep into injury time in the first half.
Jonathan Behe succeeded in losing Abdul Aziz in the centre circle to enable the break which prompted alarm bells in the DPMM FC defence with only Brian McLean providing cover. However, Sahil Suhaimi could not exploit the defensive hole despite staying onside.
It was end-to-end action as Shah Razen found acres of space to run into the Warriors FC half before releasing the ball for Azwan Ali who, however, shot wide.
Najib Tarif provided a cross into the box and Adi controlled the ball to perfection to remove the threat of Ignatius Ang and drove his shot into goal which was well saved by Maran.
The ball fell into the returning Azwan Salleh who cuts the ball back into the middle and Priyomov guided the ball home which led to protests from the Warriors FC players for offside.