| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC head coach Rene Weber highlighted that his charges deserved their place in the RHB Singapore Cup final after navigating their way from a two-legged semi-final tie against Balestier Khalsa FC with a 4-2 aggregate win.
The Gegar Gegar men surrendered a two-goal cushion after an attacking-minded Balestier Khalsa threatened a miraculous comeback but they ensured their passage after two late goals which brought the tie.
The second Balestier Khalsa goal would have drawn flashbacks to their encounter against Home United at the same stage three years ago when a one-goal advantage was wiped clean, with a second eventually dashed DPMM FC hopes at the Yishun Stadium.
When the Tigers drew level on aggregate, history was in danger of repeating itself and they were fortunate that Fadli Kamis did not make a clean contact after reacting to a corner.
Weber accepted that their first-half display was a shadow of themselves and lifted his charges with the most important team talk in his first season in charge of the team.
“In the first half, the way we performed was unlike ourselves. It wasn’t how DPMM FC play. Balestier played well and they spent too much energy in the first half,” Weber told the Football Association of Singapore.
The Brunei side ventured forward with more urgency at the start of the second half before finding the two goals which prevented the game from forcing into extra time.
“We started to play better in the second half and our way of play is take the ball.
“That’s why I talked to them during the break and the players turned it around and did well,” he said.
“We deserved to go to the final. It is the first time we are in the RHB Singapore Cup final and I hope we can win against Albirex.”
The former Atletico Mineiro assistant manager is aware of the difficulty against the newly-proclaimed invincibles but having helped his team to a first final in four seasons, there is belief that the team can make history.
“We know it will be a difficult game as they are champions in the league three times. But it is just one game and I hope we can win. If we play in the same manner like we did in the second half, then we can win against anyone.
“The final is a special game and I believe in my team. The players deserved this (a place in the final). We want to make history in the final,” said Weber.