DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic during Wednesday's training session. DPMM FC fell 3-1 to Warriors FC last night despite the coach eager to get back to winning ways. Picture: BT/Saiful Omar
DPMM FC slumped to their ninth defeat of their Singapore League (S-League) campaign after losing 3-1 to Warriors FC last night.
Shimpei Sakurada opened the scoring after connecting on a corner to give the Warriors the lead in the 28th minute at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore, and Croatian striker Mislav Karoglan doubled the advantage in the 32nd minute after receiving the ball from the right side and going on to beat Wardun Yussof in between the DPMM FC sticks.
Tales Ricarte dos Santos managed to pull one back for DPMM FC two minutes later when the Brazilian defender was at the receiving end of Suhaime Yussof's cross from the right to beat Warriors keeper Hassan Sunny.
It didn't take long for Warriors to settle down after the interval as Karoglan scored his second of the match eight minutes into the second half, and the Croatian rose highest to head home a cross from the right to make it 3-1.
DPMM FC striker Shahrazen Said said they had several chances but couldn't get the ball in the net.
"We had seven to eight chances but Warriors goalkeeper (Hassan) put up some good saves," he told The Brunei Times.
"We will just have to move on from this loss," he added.
DPMM FC have dropped down one spot to 10th in 12-team table as a result of Geylang International FC's 1-1 draw with Tanjong Pagar United FC on Wednesday night.
The Warriors, meanwhile, are up to seventh with 27 points.
DPMM FC were coming off a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of defending champions and league leaders Tampines Rovers FC on Sunday and were eager to bounce back, but Brunei's only professional club will have to forget about the pair of losses quickly and now shift their attention to the Singapore League Cup, of which they are the reigning champions.
They will be up against Woodlands Wellington in the semi-finals scheduled for September 10 at the Woodlands Stadium, the trophy the only chance of silverware they have this season.
Woodlands and Tampines Rovers played out to a 3-3 draw in last night's other S-League match at the Woodlands Stadium in Singapore.
Aleksander Duric opened the scoring for Tampines in the 16th minute before Moon Soonho equalised in the 40th minute.
Mustafic Fahrudin found the back of the net just before the break but Woodlands would draw level again in the 57th minute through Chang Jo Yoon.
The Stags regained the lead for the third time through Jamil Ali nine minutes later but Shariff Samat ensured that Woodlands would share the spoils after netting in the 82nd minute.
