RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Final Second Leg

Brunei DPMM vs Albirex Niigata (S)

(July 4, Friday, 8.00pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

(First Leg score: Albirex Niigata (S) 3-4 Brunei DPMM)

Written by: Khalis Rifhan

Brunei DPMM hold onto a slender one-goal advantage going into their RHB Singapore Cup quarter-final return tie against Albirex Niigata (S) as the Bruneians let slipped a three-goal lead and came away with a win courtesy of a late Roy O’Donovan strike in the first leg a week ago.

A goal each from Roberto Alviz, Donovan and Rodrigo Tosi gave DPMM what looked like an unassailable lead 17 minutes into that match but the White Swans were determined to prolong their stay in the cup and mounted a comeback soon after.

Kazuya Okazaki pulled a goal back before the half-time break and Keisuke Ota and Kazuki Sakamoto levelled things in the hour mark.

While DPMM’s coach Steve Kean was pleased with their last-minute win in the first leg, he reiterates the need to tighten thing up up the back when they meet Tatsuyuki Okuyama’s side at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday.

“We need to try to defend. I don’t just mean the goals but also the number of chances Albirex created in open play and I thought they could have scored a couple more (in the first leg),” explained Kean.

“I think we were too open, our back four meddled it up when there was no pressure on the ball. So there are a few things we can work on at the training ground and hope for a better second leg,” added the former Blackburn Rovers coach who revealed that he will put forth his best 11 for the match.

For the Japanese, the equation is simple; score two goals and defend their fort in order to advance to the semi-final stage.

“For defence we have to control the line although DPMM have a good attack,” said Okuyama.

“For offense, we want to score we have to make our chances count. So I want to tell the players they can score when we need the goals.”

The winner of this tie will meet Home United in the next round. Home saw off Philippines’ outfit Loyola Meralco Sparks 4-1 on aggregate over the two-legged quarter-final.

Albirex Niigata (S) – LWWWD

29/6/14    Albirex Niigata (S) 3-4 Brunei DPMM (RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Final First Leg)

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)

Brunei DPMM – WWWDL

29/6/14    Albirex Niigata (S) 3-4 Brunei DPMM (RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Final First Leg)

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