SAFFC and DPMM battle to a boring draw in S.League football

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports

Chua Chu Kang Stadium, Wednesday, July 29, 2009 – Despite having a host of chances to take all three points, Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) failed to convert them as they were held to a goalless draw by Brunei DPMM FC in the S.League.

Although SAFFC maintained their spot at the top of the table, the loss of two point opened the door to second-placed Tampines Rovers, who played Albirex Niigata 24 hours later, to close the five-point gap.

The meeting was the fourth meeting between the two sides this season, but it was the first time the defending league champions were able to take a point off the foreign side.

The Warriors came into the match without playmaker John Wilkinson through suspension while DPMM had the services of new signing Drazen Govic, but it was the home side that had the first clear chance in the 13th minute with Mustaqim Manzur was put through on goal by an accurate long ball from Aleksandar Duric. Wardun Yussof, however, got a hand to his shot and the rebound was cleared off the line by the defense.

SAFFC then laid siege on DPMM's goal with Duric heading a cross over the bar while Therdsak Chaiman blasted a shot over after great work from Mustaqim Manzur down the left. Even defenders Daniel Bennett and Kenji Arai got in on the action with Arai heading a corner over and Bennett skying a shot.

For the foreign side, however, half-time could come soon enough as they were fortunate to keep a clean sheet at the interval.

The pressure didn't let up in the second half with Therdsak Chaiman hitting the post with a free kick in the 51st minute. Duric and Latiff also took harmless cracks at goal, before Latiff had arguably the best chance of the match in the 72nd minute.

Park weaved his way past two defenders down the right before cutting the ball back to an unmarked Latiff, but his pile driver of a shot from just inside the box was kept out well by the goal keeper while Park headed the rebound away from goal instead of back into the danger area.

Towards the end of the match, DPMM almost delivered a sucker punch to the league leaders with new signing Drazen Govic forcing a reflex one-handed save from Shahril Jantan.

After surviving 90 minutes of attacking football from SAFFC, DPMM's coach, Vjeran Simunic, was more than happy with the draw.

"We came here for a draw and we got a draw! So I am more than satisfied."

SAFFC coach Richard Bok also commented on his side's unfortunate result.

"I am very disappointed with the result. It is two points lost for us more than a point gained. We played better than we did against Super Reds, there was discipline in our game, but if you don't put away your chances, you can't win. That's football.”

“Our performance, however, does give us encouragement for our next game against Tampines."