Brunei DPMM FC moved top of the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League on Wednesday evening after snapping a four-game winless streak with a 3-1 triumph over Geylang International.
Although Azwan Ali handed the hosts an early eighth-minute lead at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Geylang responded shortly after the half-hour mark through Shawal Anuar.
Nonetheless, a brilliant long-range goal from Azwan Saleh restored DPMM's advantage before half-time, and Rafael Ramazotti went on to seal the victory for them with a third goal.
The result was enough for the Bruneian outfit to move above Albirex Niigata (S) and Warriors FC into first place, although they are only ahead of the former on goal difference.
Yet, having failed to hold on to the lead in their last three matches -- 1-1 draws against Courts Young Lions, Hougang United and Tampines Rovers -- it looked as though it could be another difficult evening for Steve Kean's charges.
They did edge ahead after eight minutes when a neat through-ball from Joe Gamble released Azwan Ali, who proceeded to round Yazid Yasin before firing home.
But Geylang responded in the 32nd minute when Shawal Anuar levelled the scores; the 24-year-old latching onto a Jozef Kaplan pass before making no mistake in finishing past Wardun Yussof.
Yet, through a moment of individual magic, the hosts reclaimed the lead six minutes later as Azwan Saleh decided to try his luck from 30 yards out and proceeded to send an unstoppable effort into the back of the net.
And three minutes into the second half, the contest was effectively over when Ramazotti reacted quickest after Azwan Ali's initial effort had been saved by Yazid, and proceeded to net on the rebound to make it 3-1 to his side.
Having finally notched their first win in five matches and surge to the top of the table in the process, DPMM will now shift their focus to the RHB Singapore Cup, where they will take on Tampines Rovers over two legs next week.
Geylang are also in Singapore Cup action but they will approach their meeting with Philippine outfit Global FC with a vastly different agenda, as coach Jorg Steinebrunner looks to get his side back into some much-needed form.
Wednesday's defeat to DPMM, their fifth in a row in all competition, means the Eagles are now bottom in the S.League due to their inferior goal difference with Young Lions.
Brunei DPMM FC: Wardun Yussof, Aminuddin Zakwan, Boris Raspudic, Brian McLean, Sairol Sahari (Maududi Hilmi 70'), Azwan Ali, Joe Gamble, Rosmin Kamis (Yura Indera Putera 69'), Azwan Saleh (Helmi Zambin 80'), Shahrazen Said, Rafael Ramazotti
Geylang International: Yazid Yasin, Anaz Hadee (Bruno Castanheira 75'), Hafiz Osman, Kento Fukuda, Syed Thaha, Nor Azli Yusoff, Yuki Ichikawa (Khairulnizam Jumahat 34'), Hafiz Nor, Mustaqim Manzur (Tatsuro Inui 61'), Shawal Anuar, Jozef Kaplan