Trial player Andres Mendoza started for DPMM FC in their match against Phuket FC yesterday. DPMM FC lost the match 2-0. EPA
DPMM FC were handed a 2-0 loss at the hands of Phuket FC in the 2014 Phuket Saksee Cup in Thailand yesterday.
DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean played a different team compared to their first match as he started off with five foreigners - Roberto Alviz, Rodrigo Tosi, Boris Raspudic, Joseph Gamble and on trial player Andres Mendoza - yesterday.
He also left out several local players including Maududi Hilmi Kasmi and Ak Mohd Fakharrazi Pg Hj Hassan, who both got their names on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win against Nakhon Si Heritage on Friday.
Sloppy play by Brunei's only professional team right after kick off resulted in a brace by Ney Fabiano de Oliviera in the fifth and sixth minutes, settling the tie at the Surakul Stadium in Phuket.
The task of a comeback was made tougher for DPMM FC as they were reduced to 10-man after Azwan Ali Rahman was shown his second yellow card in the second half.
It was back to level playing field after former DPMM FC defender Tales Ricarte dos Santos was also sent to the showers later in the match.
Despite the setback, DPMM FC captain Rosmin Hj Kamis felt that the overall performance was alright.
"The performance by the team was ok. It was just that in the early minutes of the game we switched off," said Rosmin in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
"Overall we had a good game especially in the second half," he added.
Asked about the red card for Azwan, the captain replied: "I thought it was a poor decision by the referee. It was 50-50.
"Actually I thought he (the ref) made wrong decisions most of the match. We should have been given a penalty in the first half but the ref gave a free kick instead.
"He had a clear view and it was inside the box. But I know that is not an excuse," added Rosmin.
Despite the loss, the midfielder is taking the positives out of the Singapore League (S-League) pre-season matchup.
"There is plenty of room for improvement. It is better that we lose now before the league starts so that we know what needs to be done," said Rosmin.
"I believe that we can only get better and better," he added.
Leftback Sairol Hj Sahari started the match yesterday and competed the second half against Nakhon Si Heritage on Saturday.
He felt good progress having returned to his first competitive match since being out with a meniscus tear in his right knee last August.
"I feel better but I will need to be fitter because during the second half my muscles felt tight," said Sairol.
"I played for 70 minutes before coming off. I didn't want to force myself to continue for my own safety," he added.
DPMM FC will end the three-team round-robin competition with one win and one loss.
Next on the calendar for DPMM FC will be a friendly against Kelantan FA, the FA Cup champions and Malaysia Cup runners-up, in a friendly at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas next Friday.
Their S-League campaign begins on Feb 22 against Albirex Niigata (S) FC, with their first home game set for six days later against Warriors FC.
