Liga Super: DPMM Strike Late to Sink N9 3-1
Substitutes Dalberto Luan and Oscar Santis deliver late heartbreak for the visitors as DPMM bounce back with a crucial victory in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Brunei DPMM FC inflicted a painful 3-1 defeat on Negeri Sembilan FC at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on Friday, extending the visitors' wait for a league victory.
Seeking redemption after a 2-0 FA Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), the hosts fielded Australian forward Jordan Murray to lead the line. Negeri Sembilan head coach Daniel Gimenez countered with an aggressive attacking trio featuring Yusuke Minagawa, Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, and Akhyar Rashid.
DPMM nearly drew first blood in the second minute when Miguel Oliveira’s sharp strike rattled the goalpost. Ten minutes later, Murray brought the home crowd to their feet, connecting with a powerful header that cleanly beat goalkeeper Syahmi Adib Haikal to give DPMM a 12th-minute lead.
Stunned by the early setback, the visitors regrouped and found their rhythm. Luqman Hakim fired home a crucial equalizer in the 34th minute. Though initially flagged for offside, a VAR review overturned the decision, awarding the national prospect his first goal of the season and sending the teams into the break deadlocked at 1-1.
The second half saw Gimenez roll the dice, introducing Jovan Motika, Wan Kuzri Wan Ahmad Kamal, Alif Mutalib, and Aboubakar Kamara in search of a winner. However, it was DPMM's tactical adjustments that proved decisive. Dalberto Luan, the hero of their previous clash against Kuching City, was brought on to inject late attacking venom.
The substitution paid massive dividends in the 88th minute when Dalberto broke the deadlock with a clinical finish. Fellow substitute Oscar Santis then put the game completely beyond reach in the dying minutes, sealing a dramatic 3-1 victory for the hosts.
The result keeps DPMM comfortably in fourth place in the Super League standings with 12 points, while Negeri Sembilan languishes in eighth with just five points. DPMM will now shift focus to their crucial FA Cup semi-final return leg against JDT on November 8, while Negeri Sembilan prepares to host Kuching City FC on November 20.
Credit Photo : NSFC
