RESILIENT HOME FIGHT BACK TO MAKE SINGAPORE CUP FINAL A STIRRING COMEBACK BY HOME UNITED SAW THEM CLAIM A 3-2 WIN OVER DPMM FC IN THE SECOND LEG OF THEIR RHB SINGAPORE CUP SEMI-FINAL TO ADVANCE TO THE FINAL 4-3 ON AGGREGATE. It initially looked as though the Protectors were dead and buried in Fridays game at the Jalan Besar Stadium after goals from Roy ODonovan and Rodrigo Tosi handed DPMM a two-goal cushion inside the opening 35 minutes, but Sirina Camara pulled one back on the stroke of halftime to keep their hopes alive. Noh Rahman then looked to have done enough to force extra-time when he scored a captains goal in the 83rd minute to make it 2-2, but Home had other ideas and netted again through a Song Inyoung header a minute from time to advance and set up a final showdown with Balestier Khalsa. Speaking after the game, Head Coach Paul Lee hailed his charges ability to bounce back from a lacklustre first half and dominate proceedings after halftime en-route to claiming a memorable victory. I have to admit we didnt play well in the first half and we looked down and out when we were trailing 2-0, he said. We lost the ball too easily and were not able to build up any attacks. I could see the players were all disappointed and the morale was dropping so I told them not to worry. As long as we managed to get the game back on our terms and play our style of football, we were always going to have a chance. Its not easy but we managed to come back and win 3-2 and the players deserve credit for how well they did. They certainly got off to the worst possible start as they fell behind in the fifth minute, after their failure to clear their lines when Azwan Alis freekick came back off the post allowed ODonovan to poke home the rebound. Buoyed by taking the lead, the Bruneian outfit began to grow in confidence and had two good chances to edge further ahead although Azwan and Roberto Alviz could only send their respective efforts narrowly wide. But there was no denying the designated hosts their second goal of the evening five minutes after the half-hour mark when they were awarded a penalty after Jumaat Jantan had brought down ODonovan inside the box. Tosi stepped up to the spot and made no mistake from 12 yards – coolly stroking his shot past Shahril Jantan and into the bottom corner to put his side firmly in the driving seat. By now, it looked as though Home would need a minor miracle if they were to make the final but they were handed a lifeline in the 45th minute when Lee Kwan Woos dangerous freekick caused all sorts of havoc in the opposition area, and Camara reacted quickest to the loose ball and sent a deft chip over Wardun Yussof. Yet, DPMM could have reclaimed their two-goal lead four minutes into the second half if not for a fine double save by Shahril, who parried Azwans fierce half-volley before recovering quickly to deny ODonovan on the follow-up. A minute later, it was the Protectors turn to come close when a brilliant freekick by Kwan Woo was saved by Wardun and Joe Gamble hacked clear the loose ball just as Qiu Li was about to pounce. Both sides continued to create opportunities and Bruno Castanheira was unable to get enough power on a free header from Camaras freekick in the 54th minute, before Shahril came to the rescue again on the hour mark to beat away a glancing header from Tosi. It looked as though it was not going to be the Protectors day as the game entered its closing stages; Wardun pushing another excellent freekick by Kwan Woo onto the post, before Jumaat saw his cracking shot come back off the woodwork. Nonetheless, the breakthrough finally arrived in the 83rd minute after DPMM were unable to deal with a corner and Song Inyoung laid the ball back to the edge of the box to Noh, who sent a rocket of a strike past Wardun. And a minute from time, the stunning fightback was completed when Song nodded home on the rebound after a Qiu Li headed from Kwan Woos freekick had come back off the bar, sealing Homes progress into the final. We needed composure, belief in each other and confidence, coach Lee added. DPMM are a good side and you can see that from the fact they are leading the S.League. In the second half, it was our turn to dominate possession and we kept creating chances. Thats why Im very happy with the win and the players effort. DPMM FC: Wardun Yussof, Joe Gamble, Abdul Aziz Tamit (Shahrulrizal Abdul Rahman 80), Boris Raspudic, Azwan Saleh, Rosmin Kamis, Hendra Azam (Najib Tarif 87), Roberto Alviz, Rodrigo Tosi, Roy ODonovan, Azwan Ali. HOME UNITED: Shahril Jantan, Masrezwan Masturi, Song Inyoung, Sirina Camara, Jumaat Jantan, Noh Rahman, Lee Kwan Woo, Yasir Hanapi (Indra Sahdan Daud 82), Qiu Li, Bruno Castanheira, Fazrul Nawaz (Kwon Dakyung 46). Report: Gabriel Tan Photos: Jaron Lee
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 06:57:58 +0000
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