RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Final First Leg

Albirex Niigata (S) vs Brunei DPMM

(June 29, Sunday, 8.00pm, Jurong East Stadium)

Written by: Khalis Rifhan

Albirex Niigata (S) and Brunei DPMM face off at Jurong East Stadium on Sunday evening in the RHB Singapore Cup first leg tie where both teams will be gunning for a positive result here to put themselves in a good position to reach the last four of the competition.

Currently sitting on top of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League standings, DPMM have not progressed past the quarter-finals in the history of the Singapore Cup while Albirex’s best-ever finish was in 2009 when they finished fourth.

DPMM hit a rough patch in early June, losing two matches in a row, but they managed to steady their ship and nicked maximum points in their last two Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League matches.

Against Courts Young Lions, DPMM were made to toil for their win as they were equally pegged in possession and their eight shots on target only accounted for three goals compared to their opponents two goals from three attempts in the match.

For the White Swans, they come into this match at the back of a three-match winning streak, scoring 12 goals in the process, including a 7-1 demolition of Woodlands Wellington.

It will be a match between the league’s top scorers, Rodrigo Tosi (DPMM) and Kazuki Sakamoto (Albirex) who have 16 and 15 goals respectively.

The duo have been brilliant throughout the season for their teams and will once again shoulder goal-scoring responsibility.

Tosi had an InStat index of 123 against Young Lions including an 83% of passing accuracy and 60% of successful dribbles.

It will be busy night for Albirex defensive duo, captain Itsuki Yamada and Norihiro Kawakami, as they will pull out all stop to deny Tosi and company from penetrating their fort.

While on paper it promises to be a very attacking game, but in  a Cup game, it is hard to gauge what kind of tactics the coaches will be deploying. But since it is the first leg of the quarters, expect both teams to be cautious and avoid making any unnecessary mistake.

Albirex Niigata (S) – WWWDL

22/6/14    Albirex Niigata (S) 4-2 Courts Young Lions

18/6/14    Tanjong Pagar United 1-2 Albirex Niigata (S)

11/6/14    Albirex Niigata (S) 7-1 Woodlands Wellington

8/6/14      Balestier Khalsa 1-1 Albirex Niigata (S)

5/6/14      Albirex Niigata (S) 0-1 Hougang United

Brunei DPMM – WWDLL

22/6/14    Harimau Muda 1-4 Brunei DPMM

18/6/14    Courts Young Lions 2-3 Brunei DPMM

14/6/14    Brunei DPMM 0-0 Geylang International

10/6/14    Tampines Rovers 2-1 Brunei DPMM

6/6/14      Brunei DPMM 2-3 Home United