| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC will have to wait another year for an opportunity to win their fourth Singapore League Cup, with a possibility of not being associated with creating history after they received a 5-1 humbling by Warriors FC in the semi-finals at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.
Though it is premature to make any earlier assumptions at this stage considering how ruthless Singapore’s finest local side were, the title of history makers may fall to Albirex Niigata (S) after the side booked their place in the final with a 4-0 win over Geylang International FC.
The Japanese satellite side have three titles to their name and they will add a new record if they emulate their feat against DPMM FC’s conquerors.
The ‘Gegar Gegar’ men still have the Singapore Cup to look forward to in their hopes of taking something out of the season but their journey in the Singapore League Cup has brutally ended.
Warriors FC head coach Razif Onn had got everything right with his tactics and their beleaguered opponents simply had no answer to their relentless brand of football.
Most of the Warriors FC players who caused mayhem during their league clash at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium were instrumental in the resounding win.
Their adopted home venue had always brought good memories in the past especially at this stage of the competition but last night was not one of them.
Emmeric Ong, who is one of the players to watch out for the visitors, certainly made his case as one of the stars in the Warriors show after sending a good cross in which import Andrei Cosmin Ciolacu headed over.
The Romanian forward had a mixed start to his Warriors career after scoring a hat-trick before going missing in the other games but his liveliness would never be in question.
Jordan Webb, the other player that deserved special mention, took matters on his own hands after initiating a counterattack but Shahril Ishak failed to connect with Hafiz Nor’s cross.
DPMM FC’s resistance were duly broken after the impressive Ong slotted the ball past goalkeeper Mu’izzuddin Ismail following good work from Hafiz Nor.
Adi Said nearly levelled for the designated hosts but saw his header go wide after connecting from his brother Shahrazen’s cross.
The Brunei-based outfit were dealt with a massive blow after Warriors nicked a goal a minute before the break after a fine team move which firstly saw Ho Wai Loon releasing the ball to Webb before squaring across goal for Shahril to tap home.
Ciolacu, who needed time to settle in his brief time in Singapore football, put his side to a commanding 3-0 lead after nodding home Webb’s cross in the 53rd minute.
Chilean import Daud Gazale, who missed the group stages due to injury, was introduced from the bench against Warriors as he came on for Adi Said in the 69th minute.
But the free-scoring Warriors never got out of their rhythm as Shahril spectacularly volleyed home Ho’s teasing cross from the by-line for his second of the night.
Shahrazen pulled one back for DPMM FC after converting Azwan Ali’s cross from close range but his side were heading out of the competition with 13 minutes of the clock remaining.
Warriors added gloss to the win after Shahril completed his hat-trick with a well-taken penalty after defender Hanif Hamir was adjudged to have handled in the area.
Warriors will now represent the whole of Singapore to prevent Japanese side Albirex from making history of clinching their fourth League Cup title.