DPMM FC's Md Hendra Azam
Md Idris (L) is tackled
by an Albirex Niigata
FC (S) player during an
earlier match. Hendra
scored his first goal
for DPMM FC last night
to send Brunei's only
professional team into
the final of the
Singapore League Cup.
Picture: BT file
Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris couldn't have scored his first goal in DPMM FC colours at a better time.
His goal was enough to see the defending champions through to the final of the Singapore League Cup after edging Woodlands Wellington FC 1-0 last night at the Woodlands Stadium in Singapore.
The midfielder rifled a superb freekick from 30 metres out to stun Yazid Yassin in between the Woodlands posts in the 50th minute and it proved to be the winner for Brunei's only professional team.
The 25-year-old never expected to be the difference maker but was delighted to be the one to set the teams apart in their semi-final encounter.
"I feel great because my goal made the difference between both teams and it sent us through to the final," said Hendra in an interview with The Brunei Times after the triumph.
"I never thought that they would let me take the freekick because I know that we have other good freekick takers on the team such as Azwan Saleh, Rodrigo Tosi and Rosmin Hj Kamis.
"Even the opposing goalkeeper didn't expect that I was going to take it because he did not seem ready," he said.
"I'm proud of all my teammates because of the fighting spirit till the end of the whistle. Credit to all players to get the win," said Hendra, who was part of the 2012 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy winning side.
Woodlands should have gotten in front in the first half but Moon Soonho saw his penalty effort fly wide of the goal.
DPMM FC captain, Rosmin, felt that the missed penalty was the turnaround of the match.
"I think the Woodlands players were a little down after that missed penalty. They would have been more motivated had they scored," said Rosmin.
"We created many chances after that but fortunately one goal was enough for us to make it into the final," he added.
"We have worked hard in training over the past week and it has definitely helped us. We ran a lot tonight (Tuesday night) and I would like to congratulate all my teammates for what they did," continued the captain.
DPMM FC will take on Balestier Khalsa, who defeated Albirex Niigata 1-0 the day before, in the final on Saturday at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
This is the third finals appearance in as many times for DPMM FC in the competition.
They lifted the trophy in 2009 after beating the Singapore Armed Forces 4-3 on penalties. DPMM FC then became the first team to win the tournament twice after beating Geylang United FC 2-0 last year.
