Warriors' win over DPMM blows S.League title race wide open
BRUNEI DPMM 2
(Roy O'Donovan 23, Shahrazen Said 90)
WARRIORS FC 3
(Nicolas Velez 45, Kevin McCann 47, Hafiz Rahim 63)
A day before this top-of-the-table clash, Warriors FC goalkeeper Hassan Sunny told The New Paper his team could rely on set-pieces to overcome league leaders Brunei DPMM.
Turns out the custodian was clairvoyant, after his teammates Kevin McCann and Hafiz Rahim fired home their free-kicks to help second-placed Warriors beat DPMM 3-2 and blow the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League title race wide open.
The Warriors are now just two points behind Steve Kean's side with three games to go.
And speaking to The New Paper after the pulsating clash at Bandar Seri Begawan, coach Alex Weaver said: "Yes we worked on set-plays, knowing they have conceded from a few this season. And Kevin and Hafiz's free-kicks swung things in our favour.
"This result is huge because we had to get all three points to stand a realistic chance of winning the league.
"After our slip-up against Balestier, we have gotten ourselves back in it. What we have done with this win is put pressure on DPMM.
TOUGH MATCHES
"But we still have to take care of our own business by winning our last three games against Home United, Tampines and Albirex."
Last night's match at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium kicked off in front of 8,500 fans who enjoyed free admission for a humdinger that featured attacking football from the first whistle.
Warriors' 18-goal star Nicolas Velez and DPMM's 14-goal hitman Roy O'Donovan missed sitters in the first 10 minutes, but both forwards made amends before the break.
O'Donovan drew first blood in the 23rd minute when the 29-year-old former Sunderland striker slammed a half-cleared corner past Hassan, only for an unmarked Velez to head in Ismail Yunos' cross at the far post on the stroke of half-time for the equaliser.
Seizing on the momentum shift, McCann scored only his second goal of the season when his 30-metre free-kick had DPMM goalkeeper Wardun Yussof beaten all the way in the 47th minute.
Three minutes past the hour mark, it was Hafiz's turn to deliver from a dead-ball situation when his curling effort went in off the post.
The Wasps piled on the pressure in the last half an hour, but just could not find the decisive final pass. On the rare occasions they did, the Warriors defence, marshalled by a dominant Hassan, held firm, as the hosts threw everything at them.
DPMM did pull a goal back in the 90th minute when Adi Said's header crashed off the post and elder brother Shahrazen was on hand to smash in the rebound.
But the visitors hung on for a vital victory to stay within touching distance of the Brunei outfit, who saw their lead cut after losing their last two home games.
- BRUNEI DPMM: Wardun Yussof, Abdul Aziz Tamit (Shahrulrizal Abdul Rahman 79), Roberto Alviz, Boris Raspudic, Helmi Zambin (Awangku Fakharazzi 65), Azwan Ali (Shahrazen Said 75), Joe Gamble, Rosmin Kamis, Azwan Saleh, Adi Said, Roy O'Donovan
- WARRIORS FC: Hassan Sunny, Ismail Yunos, Daniel Bennett, Marin Vidosevic, Irwan Shah, Suria Prakash (Nur Asydiq Sukarto 90), Shi Jiayi, Hafsyar Farkhan (Miroslav Pejic 61), Kevin McCann, Hafiz Rahim (Dharham Aziz 85), Nicholas Velez
- TNP Man of the Match: Hassan Sunny
"I believe we have the character and discipline in our team to mount a serious challenge, but there's no two ways about it now, we got to win our remaining matches against Balestier, Warriors and DPMM."
- Tampines coach Rafi Ali
And now there are three
Two home games, six points dropped.
With three games left in the title race, leaders Brunei DPMM are on the verge of the biggest collapse in S.League history.
And just like closest rivals Warriors FC, who are two points behind the Wasps, defending champions Tampines Rovers, a further point back, are also relishing the opportunity to pounce.
Tampines coach Rafi Ali told The New Paper: "Of course Warriors' 3-2 win over DPMM is good news for us.
"I believe we have the character and discipline in our team to mount a serious challenge, but there's no two ways about it now, we got to win our remaining matches against Balestier, Warriors and DPMM."
SHAKY
Tampines midfielder Shahdan Sulaiman concedes that the league title is still DPMM's to lose, but pointed to a few factors that could put the Brunei side at a disadvantage.
While Warriors and Tampines play their last three games over 15 days and 16 days, respectively, DPMM have to play theirs over just eight days - from Oct 24 to Oct 31.
Moreover, in a stern test of their fitness, their local players have to represent Brunei in four Suzuki Cup qualifiers from Oct 12 to Oct 20.
"Hopefully, this would put them at a disadvantage and cause them to drop points," said Shahdan.
Warriors coach Alex Weaver added: "This might play into our hands, but we can only take care of our own business and try to win all our matches."
Rafi agreed and said: "It's not a good timing for DPMM to face all these matches, but we all have had to deal with injuries and suspensions at one point or another and these things even themselves out over nine months.
"Across the length of the season, the most consistent team will win.
"We want to make sure that team are us."
- DAVID LEE
BIG THREE'S REMAINING FIXTURES
BRUNEI DPMM
- Oct 24: v Balestier (Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium)
- Oct 28: v Albirex (Jurong East Stadium)
- Oct 31: v Tampines (Jalan Besar Stadium)
WARRIORS
- Oct 17: v Home United (Jalan Besar Stadium)
- Oct 23: v Tampines (Choa Chu Kang Stadium)
- Oct 31: v Albirex (Choa Chu Kang Stadium)
TAMPINES
- Oct 16: v Balestier (Clementi Stadium)
- Oct 23: v Warriors (Choa Chu Kang Stadium)
- Oct 31: v Brunei DPMM (Jalan Besar Stadium)
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