Football
Gabriel Tan 9y

S:League: Ramazotti brace helps DPMM to 3-1 win over Warriors FC

Steve Kean's Brunei DPMM side secured a 3-1 victory over defending champions Warriors FC when the two giants clashed in a Great Eastern Yeo's S.League match at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night.

Warriors FC came charging out of the blocks and had two golden opportunities in the opening minute to score, only to see DPMM hotshot Rafael Ramazotti punish their profligacy in front of goal with a first-half brace in the sixth and tenth minutes.

Miroslav Pejic was the architect in both moves when he swung in a delightful cross, only to see Nicolas Velez sky his shot wide at the far post, before DPMM goalkeeper Wardun Yussof pulled off a top save from Pejic's shot in the next attack.

Just when things were looking rosy for Warriors, current S.League top scorer Ramazotti dealt a hammerblow to their hearts in the sixth minute, when he flicked a Azwan Ali free-kick pass a hapless Daniel Ong in goal.

Four minutes later, the duo combined again when Azwan broke through midfield and sliced a pass to Ramazotti. The big man took one touch past the stopper before lashing his second goal of the match into an empty net.

With DPMM dominating play, the likes of Velez, Pejic and Fazrul Nawaz resorted to long-range attempts, which failed to trouble Wardun in goal.

It was former Sporting Lisbon striker Paulo Sergio who almost made it three in the 30th minute when he teased the Warriors defence before drilling a shot straight at Daniel.

Alex Weaver switched things up for the second period when he brought on Hafiz Rahim in place of Thomas Beattie and the tactical switch seemed to work wonders, as Warriors pummeled the DPMM defence with a flurry of shots.

Fazrul had a good chance in the 50th minute when Velez played him in behind the defence but his shot skimmed across goal to leave the score at two-nil to the visitors.

Substitute Hafiz was next to test Wardun on 50 minutes, but his effort from outside the box was collected safely by the Bruneian.

A mazy run by Velez two minutes later took him into the box, only for his goal-bound effort to be hacked away by a retreating Brian McLean.

Warriors' high tempo game paid off when Velez collected a Pejic corner at the edge of the box before curling a sweet effort that went in off the post to make it 2-1.

The mood on the pitch was tensed and it resulted in a scuffle between both teams in the 71st minute that got Velez and DPMM midfielder Joseph Gamble sent off by referee Farhad Mohd.

Warriors had another opportunity four minutes on, when Pejic failed to convert from three yards out after Jiayi's initial shot fell into his path.

There was still time right at the death for Daniel to bring down Sergio in the box, and the Portuguese forward made no mistake from the spot for his fourth goal of the season to cap off a good outing for last season's bridesmaid.

The 3-1 win kept DPMM in third spot with 16 points, behind Albirex on goal difference while Warriors keep top spot with 18.

Warriors FC: Daniel Ong (GK), Irwan Shah, Daniel Bennett (C), Marin Vidosevic, Nur Asyidiq Sukarto (Fazli Jaffar 90'), Thomas Beattie (Hafiz Rahim 45'), Emmeric Ong (Shi Jiayi 66'), Kevin McCann, Miroslav Pejic, Nicholas Velez, Fazrul Nawaz

Brunei DPMM: Wardun Yussof (GK), Sairol Sahari (C), Brian McLean, Boris Raspudic, Aminuddin Zakwan, Helmi Zambin (Yura Indera Putera 61'), Joseph Gamble, Hendra Azam (Rosmin Kamis 79'), Azwan Ali, Paulo Sergio, Rafael Ramazotti

^ Back to Top ^