| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC saw their hopes of winning silverware this season evaporated after losing 2-0 to Albirex Niigata (S) in the Singapore League Cup final at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
The Japanese outfit equalled the DPMM FC for the most wins in Singapore’s football third sought-after competition after becoming the first side to win back-to-back League Cup finals.
DPMM FC’s forward Adi Said produced an exquisite first touch with the ball hoisted by Brian McLean glued to his feet before knocking the ball forward to set up a shot but it was well taken by Albirex Niigata’s goalkeeper Yosuke Nozawa.
Helmi Zambin drifted in from the right and teed off for Azwan Salleh who fired his shot wide under pressure by an Albirex player.
The in-form Adi then played a short pass to the returning Paulo Sergio before setting up Rafael Ramazotti who created space to pull the trigger but Nozawa saw the incoming shot early and pulled a smart stop.
An Albirex Niigata (S) dribbles the ball
Albirex’s forward Kawata found Nagasaki but the latter contrived to blast his effort wide.
The effervescent Tatsuro Inui took out the defence with a brilliant lob with the onrushing Kawata using his chest to round off the keeper but the unbalanced striker could only hit the side-netting.
Inui faked a cross with a short pass for Rui Kumada who despite was tightly marked managed to hold off his marker and produced a magnificent effort past the hapless Wardun.
Inui’s first-time volley ended wide after after his team-mate shrugged off the attentions of a DPMM FC player to provide the cross. Mikiya Yamada also delivered a fine cross through the flanks as Kumada volleyed his effort wide.
Kento Nagasaki sprinted into the box before seeing his effort saved by Wardun but the rebound fell to Albirex captain Naofumi Tanaka whose shot into the empty net was cleared off the line by Najib Tarif.
Brazilian striker Rafael Ramazotti lifted the ball for Adi Said who steered clear in the box but his shot was parried away by Nozawa.
The tricky Albirex’s frontmen were toying with DPMM FC as Kawata cheekily back-heeled the ball for Yamada who ballooned his effort wide.
The White Swans found a killer second after Kawata showed strength to nod home Nagasaki’s corner at the far post.
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