Not quite the mini-Manila crowds as what we seen last year, but the vocal support for the "hosts" Loyola Meralco Sparks by the expatriate Filipinos was clearly in evidence at the Jalan Besar Stadium in this second leg fixture of the "Final Four" series between them and Tampines Rovers in the RHB Singapore Cup tournament.
The Stags came to this game with a two-goal advantage after beating the UFL side in the first leg days ago at the Clementi Stadium and named striker Noh Alam Shah in the starting line-up (his first start since returning from Indonesia).
Pretty close matchup on the plastic surface, which has always been the bane for many foreign sides, yet the Sparks looked pretty composed on it.
Although they found it tough to go against the Tampines backline anchored by Fahrudin Mustafic, who virtually repelled everything that was thrown to his direction in the match.
Just as the fans would thought the "visitors" would hang on to their margin, late rally in the second half saw Aleksandar Duric netted twice with another by Imran Sahib.
After the match, Sparks' team manager Joseph Vincent Santos shared his appreciation of taking part this tournament, despite losing in the end.
Said Santos:"There are so many positives from today's game, and we hope to learn as much from this tournament to channel to our semi-professional league back home."
While Tampines coach Tay Peng Kee said:"It was an exciting game, and I felt things could be different if they scored in the first half."
This evening result will see the rematch of the 2007's Cup Final match between the two local football powerhouses on the 28th October final, which Sparks will battle out with Gombak United for the third fourth placing match earlier on the same day.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES
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| Alam Shah (pictured left) started his first game since back |
Pretty close matchup on the plastic surface, which has always been the bane for many foreign sides, yet the Sparks looked pretty composed on it.
Although they found it tough to go against the Tampines backline anchored by Fahrudin Mustafic, who virtually repelled everything that was thrown to his direction in the match.
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| "Farra" (third from left) was rock-solid in Stags backline |
After the match, Sparks' team manager Joseph Vincent Santos shared his appreciation of taking part this tournament, despite losing in the end.
Said Santos:"There are so many positives from today's game, and we hope to learn as much from this tournament to channel to our semi-professional league back home."
 |
| Alex Duric (left) scored (again) at this match with a double |
This evening result will see the rematch of the 2007's Cup Final match between the two local football powerhouses on the 28th October final, which Sparks will battle out with Gombak United for the third fourth placing match earlier on the same day.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES
I heard just a little bit about this 2012 Singapore Cup, can you tell me please what team was the champion of this cup???
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