SAFFC 1-2 DPMM FC: Shahrazen Said bags the winning goal as DPMM outshine SAFFC on Singapore soil

While it played out as a very close affair between SAF and DPMM, the visitors did well to contain the Warriors at their home ground at Choa Chu Kang stadium, to eke out a 2-1 win with goals from Basiru Osman and Shahrazen Said.

This was in no small part due to the strong partnership forged between Ivan Jerkovic and captain Rosmin Kamis in midfield, sitting behind Shahrazen, Osman and Rodrigo Gahl.

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The Bruneian outfit opened the scoring, after successfully converting a corner-kick in the 17th minute of the game. While Sairol Sahari managed to meet the cross and send it back into the box, it was Basiru Osman who bundled the ball into the net. 

This early lead did not see SAF rolling over and playing dead though, with the home side continuing to make strides toward the DPMM goal. A 23rd minute corner saw Bah Mamadou unmarked in the box, getting to the end of a close-ranged header only to lob it cleanly over the crossbar. 

Again in the 41st minute, national forward Fazrul Nawaz managed to take on three Bruneian defenders, unleashing a strong shot at goal from the edge of the box that DPMM goalkeeper Wardun Yussof did well to stop.

After pocketing the first goal of the game, however, the Bruneian outfit grew visibly more confident, holding the ball longer, and maintaining their shape and composure.

The second-half also saw DPMM adopting a very defensive style of play, keeping all ten men in the box to stave off set-piece goals from the SAF.

Even with these measures in play, the 67th minute saw SAF’s Tatsuro Inui do well to convert a free-kick from the edge of the box, with a powerful shot on goal that found the upper right-hand corner of the net with ease.

Approximately ten minutes after the equalizer came the clincher, with Shahrazen getting to the end of a free-kick played into the box, cutting his marker and placing the ball in the lower left-hand corner of the net.

While DPMM take on Albirex Niigata in their next fixture on home soil, SAF are looking to break their string of losses in their uniform derby against Home United.