DPMM FC head coach Vjeran
Simunic (R) with player
Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd
Idris during a training
session on Tuesday.
Baffled by 1-3 loss to
Warriors FC in Singapore
on Thursday night,
Simunic said he doesn't
understand how they
didn't score five or
six goals. Picture:
BT/Saiful Omar
Vjeran Simunic felt that DPMM FC should have at least taken a point out of their Singapore League (S-League) match against Warriors FC on Thursday night.
A Mislav Karoglan double added to Shimpei Sakurada's open saw Brunei's only professional team slump to a 3-1 to the Warriors at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore. It was DPMM FC's ninth defeat of the S-League season and they are in 10th spot of the 12-team table with 24 points from 21 games.
"I don't understand how we didn't score five or six goals," said the DPMM FC head coach on the S-League website.
"We deserved at least a draw; it could have easily been 3-3 or more," added Simunic.
Despite the loss, Simunic was satisfied with his side's performance especially after coming off a 6-2 thrashing at the hands of league leaders Tampines Rovers at home last Sunday.
"I'm happy with the team's performance especially on the back of a 6-2 drubbing by Tampines Rovers," said the Croatian.
"We have some problems with injuries as some of our key players are out. Now we hope they will recover for our next game against Woodlands," he added.
On the other hand, Warriors coach Alex Weaver was delighted to claim all three points and to move up to seventh in the table. "The whole team played fantastic today (Thursday night), from Hassan Sunny, who was so calm and confident with the ball to the defenders who were comfortable with possession of the ball," said Weaver.
"And of course, Shi Jiayi is such an exceptional and calm influence in midfield. You can give him the ball anytime and he can play it simple and yet clever. So the build up from the back is good and we have the full backs overlapping," he added.
However, he was disappointed not to be able to keep a clean sheet after a lapse of concentration in defence.
"Beside that one time where we switched off to concede that goal, we played really well and very much deserved the win," he concluded.
DPMM FC will now shift their focus to their biggest game of the season - the semi-final matchup against Woodlands Wellington in the Singapore League Cup at the Woodlands Stadium on September 10.
As defending champions, the tournament is their only chance of silverware after a dismal season.
