SINGAPORE - Singapore Premier League (SPL) leaders Brunei DPMM extended their unbeaten start to the season to 11 games after they held defending champions Albirex Niigata to a goal-less draw on Friday night (May 24).
With most of his players observing the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, DPMM coach Adrian Pennock was happy with the point at the White Swans' Jurong East Stadium home.
"It's a great point," said the former Stoke City assistant manager.
"To come here, fasting or not, is always difficult and we had to dig in. We didn't come here to draw but the (fatigue) caught up with us a bit. Our players showed they had big hearts."
The match pitted the two most in-form players against each other in midfield.
Albirex had skipper Kyoga Nakamura, the SPL's best young player last month, while DPMM boasted Australian midfielder Blake Ricciuto, who won the goal and player of the month awards.
But Ricciuto was unable to assert himself on the game because he had his hands full in midfield combating the pass-and-move style of the Japanese side.
Â
As a result, DPMM's Belarusian striker Andrey Varankow - the SPL's leading scorer with 14 goals from 10 games - cut an isolated figure up front.
Nakamura, however, was able to show glimpses of his quality, and was involved in two of the game's brightest moments.
In the 29th minute, the 23-year-old shimmied past two players, before letting rip a fierce shot from outside the box which was tipped over the bar by DPMM goalkeeper Wardun Yussof.
Then, just seconds into the second half, the former Japan Under-17 player intercepted a loose pass in midfield, bore down on goal, and then set up teammate Hiroyoshi Kamata with a golden opportunity.
But Kamata inexplicably slid the ball into the side netting after rounding Wardun.
Albirex stayed in third place on 18 points from 10 games, nine points behind DPMM, who have played one game more.
Albirex coach Keiji Shigetomi rued the missed opportunity, saying: "Our players worked very hard, but we dropped two points tonight. Our accuracy was not good enough, and we need to do better."
Football News -The challenge is different for Liverpool. New favourites Liverpool face two stiff tests of title credentials have the burden of being branded favourites in an English
Latest JURGEN KLOPP | The Straits Times
Liverpool struck late through Divock Origi to move back top of the Premier League with a thrilling 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday and keep their hopes of a first title for 29 years alive but suffered a major scare after injury to Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool beat Newcastle with late Origi winner to top
BEN CHILWELL got the seal of approval from Pep Guardiola amid the chaos of title celebrations. Manchester City had put themselves on the brink of retaining the Premier League last month, yet
Manchester City Tickets
AD
TicketNetwork.com/ManchesterSoccer
Report Ad
Buy Manchester City Tickets! Grab your Seats on Official TicketNetwork®
Two goals in two minutes has seen the Socceroos comfortably dispatch Palestine 3-0 at the Asian Cup. Socceroos bounce back at the Asian Cup with Palestine win | Sporting News Australia
Socceroos bounce back with comfortable win over Palestine
Cristiano Ronaldo was fined almost €19 million ($21.6 million) for tax fraud on Tuesday but will avoid serving a 23-month prison sentence. The Juventus forward, who played for Real Madrid from 2009-18, agreed to settle the case by paying an €18.8m fine and accepting a suspended jail sentence.
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo fined over $20 million for tax
a great 'keeper, a fine human So I am glad he saved my header - because that act was the start of a friendship between us that I will always treasure. Rest in peace, my friend.
How Much Cash Should You Keep in the Bank? - Investopedia
Football: Mourinho rejects offers, reveals fragile ego at United. Jan 21, 2019, 5:00 am. Football: Snowflakes? Mourinho reveals fragile ego of mystery Man United star. Jan 20, 2019, 3:47 am.
Snowflakes? Mourinho reveals fragile ego of mystery Man
Apr 22, 2019 · Mike Phelan is in line to become Manchester United's new technical director as the club embark on another huge rebuilding job. Phelan, 56, has been working as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's No. 2
Edwin van der Sar is the ideal architect for Manchester
LONDON: Real Madrid have knocked Manchester United off the top of Deloitte's Football Money League, but the Premier League still flexed its financial muscle, with all of England 's 'Big Six' featuring in the top 10 for the first time. The Deloitte list ranked clubs on how much money they earn from
Jesus fires as Man City snatch top spot from Liverpool | Bangkok Post: news Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus (centre) scored his first Premier League goals for four months in a 3-1 win over
Jesus fires as Man City snatch top spot from Liverpool
Team USA members on historic fight for equal pay in women's soccer. Players on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team are fighting the U.S. Soccer Federation over wages and treatment they say are
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery believes Liverpool can match Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles' and go through the Premier League season unbeaten. The Gunners travel to Anfield on Saturday evening
Liverpool can be Invincibles, says Emery - Punch Newspapers
Welcome to our live Chelsea blog where we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news from Stamford Bridge. The Blues kept up the pace in the race for a top four place with their 2-1 win over Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea versatile midfielder edge closer to seal shock move
chelseacrowd.com/2019/03/28/chelsea-versatile-midfielder-edge-closer-to-seal-shock-move-to-arsenal/
Arsenal have seemingly moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic. The Blues secured a season-long loan deal for Kovacic last summer, and Maurizio Sarri is likely to be keen on securing the Croatia international's signature on a permanent basis should he remain at Stamford Bridge.
Paul Pogba ready to push for Real Madrid move - but first
0 comments:
Post a Comment