Written by: Ryan Low

Philippines invitee Ceres La Salle showed a real statement of intent by thrashing Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League champions Brunei DPMM 3-0 in the first leg of their RHB Singapore Cup quarter-final tie at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday night.

An early opener by Manuel Ott and a brace by star man Stephan Schrock saw the United Football League champions run out convincing winners, leaving DPMM with a mountain to climb for the second leg.

Ceres started on the front foot, creating a couple of promising openings before breaking the deadlock on 15 minutes.

A clever Bienvenido Morejon through ball led to Ott advancing on goal and the latter wasted little time in rifling home a first-time finish from 15 yards out.

DPMM struggled to assert their authority on the game and duly went two behind 11 minutes later.

Former Hoffenheim man Schrock evaded a couple of defenders with some neat close control, before lashing home a stunner from 20 yards out that left Wasps goalkeeper Wardun Yussof grasping at thin air.

DPMM tried to hit back before the break, but Azwan Salleh’s delightful volley was tipped wide by Ceres custodian Louie Casas, while Maududi Hilmi somehow flashed his effort wide after going through on goal.

Steve Kean then threw on the Said brothers, Shahrazen and Adi, for the second half to add more bite in attack, but the Ceres defence held firm to repel their threat.

Captain Rosmin Kamis went the closest on 65 minutes as his shot from outside the area almost dipped into goal before Casas pulled off a superb acrobatic save.

That paved the way for the Ceres to push forward and get the vital third goal seven minutes later. A superb right-wing cross by Patrick Reichelt laid it on a platter for Schrock to convert first-time from close range for his second goal of the night.

The game ended on a slightly low note for the Philippines outfit though, with Ott given the marching orders late on for an altercation with Rafael Ramazotti.

Nonetheless a three-goal margin means DPMM got it all to do in Sunday’s second leg at the same venue.

Brunei DPMM head coach Steve Kean: “In the first half, we found it difficult to get close to Ceres and get a grip on the game. We could not string three to four passes together.

“The second half gave us some good encouragement though. We put more pressure in the middle and started to ask a few questions.

If we start the second leg in the same manner, then maybe we have a chance to come back. We will get (Paulo) Sergio back (from suspension) for that game too, which will be good for us.”

Ceres La Salle head coach Ali Bernard: “The third goal’s very important for us because it gives us some breathing space for the second leg. I wasn’t amused (before that) because the players were playing some exhibition football; I told them to concentrate on playing simple.

“A 3-0 lead is good but we have to remember DPMM is a very strong opponent. We have to hold them in the first 20 to 25 minutes of the second leg; hopefully they will get frustrated by then.”

Brunei DPMM: Wardun Yussof (GK), Rosmin Kamis (C), Yura Indera Putera, Brian McLean, Helmi Zambin, Azwan Salleh (Azim Izamuddin 76’), Nurikhwan Othman (Adi Said 46’), Najib Tarif, Maududi Hilmi, Azwan Ali (Shahrazen Said 46’), Rafael Ramazotti

Ceres La Salle: Louie Casas (GK), Carlos Martinez (Marwin Angeles 74’), Kim Sang Min (C), Jason Sabio, Kevin Ingreso (Nathaniel Burkey 45’), Bienvenido Morejon, Manuel Ott, Paul Mulders, Jeffrey Christiaens, Stephan