HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (R), the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah (C) and HRH Prince 'Abdul Malik during last night's friendly match between DPMM FC and Kelantan at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. The match ended 0-0. Picture: BT/Saiful Omar
DPMM FC's Azwan Ali Rahman (C) runs with the ball during last night's friendly against Kelantan at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. Picture: BT/Saiful Omar
DPMM FC dominated last night's friendly against Kelantan but couldn't hit the back of the net in the 0-0 draw.
The game was part of the team's pre-season training for their Feb 22 Singapore League match against Albirex Niigata, and the hosts started off by shifting gears ahead of Kelantan to take control.
The match also offered the sizable crowd at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas their first look at new coach Steve Kean, who took over the reins in November from Vjeran Simunic.
DPMM FC trial player Nathan Fontaine set up the first shot of the match for Rodrigo Tosi, which was quickly countered by a dangerous tackle leading to a penalty kick in the fifth minute.
Fontaine stepped up to take the shot from the spot kick but unfortunately failed to put enough power behind the ball giving Kelantan's Muhamad Syazwan Yusoff an easy save.
The duo of Fontaine and Tosi linked up again once more creating a one-two play that led to a shot that just flew wide of the post from Fontaine a minute later.
Kelantan's Mohd Khairul Izuan Rosli created their best chance at goal during the 19th minute when he was about to take a shot at goal before he was quickly shut down by DPMM FC's defence.
DPMM FC were handed two free-kicks in a span of two minutes following a fouls in the 22nd minute, though both chances saw them lose the ball after careless mistakes.
Muhamad Syazwan was posing to be a threat to DPMM FC as he continued to save shots at goal.
Tosi tried to chip a shot over Muhamad Syazwan, but his quick jump to save it saw the ball hit the woodworks in the 40th minute.
Another on-trial player with DPMM FC, Frederic Nimana's header was on the receiving end of a deflection but Muhamad Syazwan managed to knock the ball out of play.
DPMM FC suffered another hit after a goal was disallowed during injury time.
The first 15 minutes of the second half played out slow before Tosi sent in a screamer outside the box to get everyone on their feet.
Kelantan start to fight back by putting pressure upfront, though DPMM FC's defence continues to hold them back from goal.
Tosi spectacular play continued as he sent a perfect pass to Nimana who went on to chase the ball down before sending a piercing shot to Muhamad Syazwan's gloves in the 66th minute.
DPMM FC's on-trial player Andrea Augusto Mendoza carried on with Nimana's vicious attacks after replacing him, Mendoza outpaced three of Kelantan's defenders before sending in a stinger in the 70th minute.
Mendoza once again out ran the Kelantan defence a minute later but still couldn't find the back of the net.
Leading up to the final minutes, DPMM FC's Azwan Ali Rahman knocked in a perfect cross into the box to the feet of Azwan Salleh.
The latter was given a wide open shot after the ball sailed over the keeper but still failed to hit the back of the net in the 87th minute.
After their game against Albirex, DPMM FC will take on Warriors FC on Feb 28 in their first home game of the season at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
They will then travel to the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore to play Home United on March 13 before hosting defending champions Tampines Rover FC on March 23 in a true test of their title credentials.
DPMM finished runners-up in 2012 in their best season in the S-League. They also won the League Cup for a second time in 2012 but suffered a change of fortunes last season, finishing eighth in the S-League and losing in the League Cup final.
