The Lion City Sailors had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Brunei DPMM in their Singapore Premier League (SPL) clash at the Bishan Stadium on Saturday (12 April) evening.
The result sees the Sailors’ lead at the top of the SPL table reduced to five points, although they still hold a game in hand over second-placed BG Tampines Rovers.
Back on home ground for the first time in nearly a month – having last played at Bishan in a 4-1 Singapore Cup triumph over Balestier Khalsa – the Sailors were eager to build on their good run of form and take another step towards reclaiming the SPL title.
However, they were met with a dogged DPMM outfit who battled resolutely from start to finish, and ultimately earned a hard-fought point for their efforts.
“We are disappointed to drop two points tonight. We tried to go forward but they (DPMM) were fighting till the end with everything they had,” said Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković post-match.
The Serbian tactician made some notable changes to his starting eleven – midfield lynchpin Bart Ramselaar and Portuguese left back Diogo Costa were given a breather, while Maxime Lestienne returned to the lineup for his first start since recovering from an elbow injury.
The contest was disrupted early on, with the Lightning Warning System (LWS) activated just 13 minutes in, forcing players off the pitch due to inclement weather.
After a 35-minute delay, the action resumed and it was DPMM captain Azwan Ali Rahman who had the first opportunity – but his effort flew off target in the 16th minute.
The Sailors’ first notable attempt came in the 39th minute, when Abdul Rasaq Akeem tried to curl one into the far corner, only to find the grateful arms of DPMM goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
Just a couple of minutes later, the best chance of the half fell to Hami Syahin, who aimed for the top corner from close range, but his shot took a deflection and went out for a corner.
It was a frustrating opening 45 minutes for the Sailors, with clear-cut chances few and far between – a point Ranko did not shy away from in his post-match comments.
“We threw away the first half. In the first half, we were really nowhere,” said the Serbian tactician. “We were slow on the ball and not really aggressive. However, we were better in the second half.”
In a bid to change the game’s outcome, Song Uiyoung was introduced at halftime and nearly made an immediate impact, but he fired his effort just wide in the 47th minute.
Hami was next to try his luck, striking a powerful shot in the 58th minute that sailed over the bar.
At the other end, DPMM had a golden opportunity from a corner in the 72nd minute – Damir Muminović was left unmarked for a free header, but his effort went straight at Izwan Mahbud. It proved to be the visitors’ only shot on target all evening.
As the Sailors ramped up the pressure in the closing stages, Rui Pires picked out Maxime with a delightful ball over the top, but the Belgian’s volley was well-saved by Kristijan Naumovski.
In the dying moments of the game, Christopher van Huizen’s goal-bound strike looked destined for the back of the net, only to be headed away by Muminović as DPMM stood firm under intense pressure to see out the draw.
“They (DPMM) play very deep in their own half. You have to move the ball quickly from side to side, and find those 1v1 situations on the flanks,” Ranko explained. “That’s something we didn’t do – especially in the first half. We did a little more of that in the second, but it wasn’t enough.”
In a way, this encounter served as a dress rehearsal for the Sailors’ upcoming first leg clash with DPMM in the semi-finals of the Singapore Cup, which is set for Tuesday, 22 April.
The Sailors have six matches remaining in the 2024/25 SPL season and Ranko wants his charges to keep their focus for the final stretch.
“We’re still five points clear (in the SPL) with a game in hand, but it’s not going to be easy,” Ranko cautioned. “If anyone thinks it will be, I’m telling you now – the last few games of the season are always the most difficult.”
There will be precious little time for the Sailors to dwell on Saturday’s result, with the team set to embark on a 6,300km journey Down Under to face Sydney FC in the return leg of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two semi-final.
Ranko’s charges take a 2-0 advantage into the tie, thanks to goals from Bart and Lennart Thy in the first leg that put the Sailors in the driver’s seat.
Like the Sailors, Sydney will also enter this clash on the back of a draw, having let slip a 2-0 lead to share the spoils with A-League leaders Auckland FC on Saturday. With both sides hungry for continental glory, all signs point to a blockbuster encounter.
“We don’t have much time to think about today’s game because the next one is already around the corner,” said Ranko. “We’re travelling on Sunday morning, and then we’ll switch our focus to that.”
