DPMM FC's Roy O'Donovan (L) and Rodrigo Tosi after their 7-0 win over Global FC in the Singapore Cup qualifying round for the quarter-finals at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night. Picture: Courtesy of Ranoadidas
DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean was all praise for his boys and felt that they played a fantastic game in the second-half. Picture: BT file
DPMM FC tasted sweet revenge as they thrashed Global FC 7-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Singapore Cup at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.
Their previous clash in last year's edition of the tournament saw Global FC of the Philippines knocked them out 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. DPMM FC's goal scoring machines - Roy O'Donovan and Rodrigo Tosi - were again on target as they shared a total of five goals between them in a game that proved the total dominance of the Bruneian club.
O'Donovan capped his stellar performance with fine a hat-trick scoring in the 59th, 78th and 89th minutes to make him the leading scorer in the Singapore Cup. Tosi, who is currently the top scorer in the Singapore League with 12 goals, hit the back of the net in the 57th and 70th minutes.
The remaining goals were knocked in by Azwan Salleh in the 80th minute and Shahrazen Said in the 90th, who was a late substitute in the 82nd minute for Tosi. DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean felt that his boys played a fantastic game in the second-half.
"I felt that in the first half probably our players were all too wide," Kean told the media. "We were making it very easy for the Global FC's full backs, so what we did after half-time was play very narrow on the pitch because I felt that Global FC's two holding midfield players were getting on the ball too much.
"We really turned the middle of the pitch to our advantage so that Joe Gamble, Hendra Azam and Rosmin Kamis could control the game from middle, making it difficult for the two central players of Global FC. "I also pushed another player up front because I wanted Tosi to drop in midfield a little bit when we didn't have the ball. I told to him just stay up as a striker and let's just try to win the ball in the middle and then play off the front end quicker and squeeze the game much higher.
"Historically, we don't have a good record in this competition but I don't believe that history comes in always because every year you have a new team. "I think the main thing for us is that we just have to keep trying hard to keep clean sheets both in the S-League and now in this competition.
"I said at the beginning of the season I think that we have a competitive squad that can compete in the three competitions, so why not win this competition because it's a fantastic one to win," added Kean. DPMM FC will be joining Tanjong Pagar United, Balestier Khalsa, Geylang International, Albirex Niigata (S), Tampines Rovers and Home United in the quarter-finals.
Tanjong Pagar were the first to earn a spot through edging Hougang United 1-0 on Monday. Their winning goal came from the foot of Zerka Monsef in the 76th minute.
Balestier followed suit after picking up a 3-1 victory over the Warriors while Geylang thrashed Woodlands Wellington 5-1 on Tuesday. Balestier's goals came from Muhammad Zulkiffli Hassim in the 6th minute, Goran Ljubojevic in the 62nd and Park Kang Jin in the 77th while Warriors Miroslav Pejic slotted in their only one in the 45th.
Geylang's impressive score line came from Muhammad Khairulnizam Jumahat in the 16th minute, Felice Leonel Ezequiel in the 33rd, Mustaqim Manzur Ahmed Khan in the 50th, Aliff Shafaein Safiee in the 52nd and Hafiz Nor in the 70th. Woodlands sole goal was knocked in the back of the net by Chang Jo Yoon via penalty in the 42nd minute.
Albirex passed the top-16 with ease securing a 3-0 beating over Svay Rieng FC on Wednesday. Their shots were knocked in by Kazuya Okazaki in the 9th minute, Kazuki Sakamoto in the 37th and Kazuya Fukuzaki in the 61st.
Tampines were handed a tough test by Harimau Muda as the teams remained goalless at full-time on Thursday.
They eventually went on to win 6-5 on penalties after the extra-time failed break the 1-1 stalemate. The goals were slotted in the last four minutes by Tampines Mohd Noh Alam Shah Kamarezaiman in the 116th minute and Harimau Muda's Mohammad Ramzi Sufian in the 120th. Home United outclassed Nagacorp 5-0 to progress on Friday.
Their goals came through Indra Sahdan Daud in the 21st minute, Lee Kwan Yoo's penalty in the 32nd, Fazrul Nawaz S/o Shahul Hameed in the 45th, Ahmed Fahmie Jamil in the 80th and Muhammad Fazli Ayob in the 87th. Loyola Meralco Sparks will take on SHB Champasak at the Jalan Besar Stadium tonight to decide who takes the final spot of the quarters.
