DPMM top S.League table after beating Warriors 2-0
Title in Brunei outfit's grasp after huge win over champions
BRUNEI DPMM 2
(Rafael Ramazotti 21, Adi Said 90)
WARRIORS FC 0
Brunei DPMM have put themselves in the driver's seat in the race for this season's Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League crown.
Last night in Bandar Seri Begawan, the Wasps posted a 2-0 win over defending champions Warriors FC to move into top spot.
A goal in the 21st minute by Rafael Ramazotti - the Brazilian's 14th of the season - and an injury-time strike by substitute Adi Said gave them the win.
Crucially, DPMM also have a game in hand over their immediate rivals, second-placed Albirex Niigata and the Warriors, who are third.
They have 12 games left in the S.League season, and are in control of their own destiny.
Steve Kean's men will also like the look of their fixture list.
While they have six matches against teams in the top five, all but one of those will be played in their Bandar Seri Begawan home.
Former Blackburn Rovers manager Kean, however, warned that his men cannot afford to let up in their charge for a first S.League title.
"The boys will have their feet on the ground because they remember last year very well," said the Scot.
"We led the table for almost every week only to trip up at the end, and that left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"It's a long way to go, and we've got a lot of tough games to come.
"But it's been a while since we were top, and I would much rather be in the position we are now, leading with games in hand, than chasing someone else."
DISAPPOINTING
The match was a disappointing end for Warriors' Argentinian striker Nicolas Velez, who will leave for Indian Super League side North East United tomorrow.
In last night's other match, a 24th-minute Vuk Sotirovic goal gave Hougang United a 1-0 win over Harimau Muda at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malacca.
The 33-year-old Serbian is a man on form, and last night's strike was his fourth in as many league games since signing for the Cheetahs in the mid-season transfer window from top-tier Serbian side Novi Pazar.
- BRUNEI DPMM: Wardun Yusoff, Aminuddin Zakwan, Boris Raspudic, Brian McLean, Sairol Sahari, Hendra Azam (Maudidi Hilmi 87), Joe Gmble, Rosmin Kamis, Azwan Ali, Rafael Ramazotti, Shahrazen Said (Adi Said 87)
- WARRIORS: Daniel Ong (Shahul Rayyan 46), Marcus Wheeler (Fazrul Nawaz 73), Syaqir Sulaiman, Daniel Bennett, Irwan Shah, Emmeric Ong, Kevin McCann, Karlo Ivancic (Azlan Razak 88), Nicolas Velez, Hafiz Rahim, Miroslav Pejic
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