BALESTIER CLAIMED FIRST BERTH OF CUP 'FINAL FOUR'
"Football is so unpredictable and never to speak too soon" said Balestier Khalsa assistant coach Kevin Wee who was delegated to speak to the media after the comeback win that saw Balestier Khalsa clinched the first berth of the Singapore Cup "Final Four".
Indeed, the Tigers came back from a two-goal deficit to draw level in the second half of the returning fixture at home and triggered a PK decider to knock Hougang Utd out of the tournament.
Credit to the hosts for a spirited second half display taking advantage after Cheetahs lost their shape following a Qiu Li strike to make it 2-1 on aggregate before Kim Minho levelled the scores moments later.
Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Hougang United on aggregate (Balestier beat Hougang 4-1 on penalties)
DPMM OUT OF THE CUP IN THE END...
I do hope it wasn't a scrappy affair like the first leg when I came to know it was a 4-4 draw at the end of the second-leg regulation time between Brunei DPMM FC and Global FC of the Philippines in their returning leg of the RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-final match.
According to the score sheet, it seems that the UFL side went on a rampage that saw them leading 4-0 over the Bruneians before the hour mark, before the reigning League Cup winners staged a late rally to level the scores at 4-4 by the 85th minute through Joao Moreira.
But it proved too late for Vjeran Simunic's boys, as they crashed out of the tournament on a 5-4 aggregate.
The question would be if both teams were guilty of some poor defending for one allowed such a big margin before the other received the same treatment after the hour mark?
It is up to individual to interpret Sanchez's goal in the first leg, which I felt it was a lapse in DPMM defence then.
Any coach would be concerned if his team was leading by a huge margin and to be drawn level in less than 40 minutes till the end.
Global FC 5-4 on aggregate over Brunei DPMM
JAGUARS AVOID BEING SPARKED AND CLAIMED THE THIRD BERTH
Straight to the point, if anyone asks me to compare the outcome of the Global-DPMM match and the Tanjong Pagar-Loyola Meralco Sparks game, I would say the latter match would be more deservedly to be called a great match.
It was more of an end-to-end stuff with both Jaguars and Sparks tried to outsmart one and other during the match.
Congrats to coach Patrick Vallee for leading the Jags to the semis and I believe the French coach has some unfinished business to prove in the Cup after that painful exit in 2010.
Tanjong Pagar United 5-4 on aggregate over Loyola Meralco Sparks
HOME UNITED FILLED OUT THE QUARTET WITHOUT FRILLS
The 2011 Cup holders filled up the last slot of the "Final Four" with a 5-2 aggregate win over Geylang International at Bishan Stadium.
Unlike the previous three quarter-final affairs, the Protectors-Eagles clash was a much tepid contest with scrappy plays dominated a large part of the game that ended 3-2 in favour of the hosts.
In his customary media briefing after the match, Home United coach Lee Lim Saeng shown his appreciation to the efforts shown by his team during the Ramadan period.
Said the former Korean international:"I appreciate the efforts shown by the players during the fasting (Ramadan) period, as it's not easy to play under this circumstance that I believe we will play better after it's over."
Meanwhile, Geylang's coach V Kanan also lauded the efforts shown by his team when addressing the media.
"My boys didn't give up although it was a lapse of concentration that saw them concede those goals, but they worked hard and gave them (Home United) a run for their money," said the Eagles gaffer.
Paying tribute to his opponents, the former national athletic tipped the Protectors to be the "team to take the Cup".
Said coach Kanan:"With the disposal of the players they have, I would say Home United is the team to take the Cup and Balestier can't take them on when they meet in the semis."
Home United 5-2 on aggregate over Geylang International
SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES
"Football is so unpredictable and never to speak too soon" said Balestier Khalsa assistant coach Kevin Wee who was delegated to speak to the media after the comeback win that saw Balestier Khalsa clinched the first berth of the Singapore Cup "Final Four".
 |
| Kim Minho's (center) goal levelled to force extra time |
Indeed, the Tigers came back from a two-goal deficit to draw level in the second half of the returning fixture at home and triggered a PK decider to knock Hougang Utd out of the tournament.
Credit to the hosts for a spirited second half display taking advantage after Cheetahs lost their shape following a Qiu Li strike to make it 2-1 on aggregate before Kim Minho levelled the scores moments later.
Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Hougang United on aggregate (Balestier beat Hougang 4-1 on penalties)
DPMM OUT OF THE CUP IN THE END...
I do hope it wasn't a scrappy affair like the first leg when I came to know it was a 4-4 draw at the end of the second-leg regulation time between Brunei DPMM FC and Global FC of the Philippines in their returning leg of the RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-final match.
 |
| Tough going for Simunic this year |
But it proved too late for Vjeran Simunic's boys, as they crashed out of the tournament on a 5-4 aggregate.
The question would be if both teams were guilty of some poor defending for one allowed such a big margin before the other received the same treatment after the hour mark?
It is up to individual to interpret Sanchez's goal in the first leg, which I felt it was a lapse in DPMM defence then.
Any coach would be concerned if his team was leading by a huge margin and to be drawn level in less than 40 minutes till the end.
Global FC 5-4 on aggregate over Brunei DPMM
JAGUARS AVOID BEING SPARKED AND CLAIMED THE THIRD BERTH
Straight to the point, if anyone asks me to compare the outcome of the Global-DPMM match and the Tanjong Pagar-Loyola Meralco Sparks game, I would say the latter match would be more deservedly to be called a great match.
 |
| Hafiz Nor scores for Jaguars (credit: TPUFC's FB) |
Congrats to coach Patrick Vallee for leading the Jags to the semis and I believe the French coach has some unfinished business to prove in the Cup after that painful exit in 2010.
Tanjong Pagar United 5-4 on aggregate over Loyola Meralco Sparks
HOME UNITED FILLED OUT THE QUARTET WITHOUT FRILLS
The 2011 Cup holders filled up the last slot of the "Final Four" with a 5-2 aggregate win over Geylang International at Bishan Stadium.
Unlike the previous three quarter-final affairs, the Protectors-Eagles clash was a much tepid contest with scrappy plays dominated a large part of the game that ended 3-2 in favour of the hosts.
 |
| Indra Sahdan scored Home's 3rd goal |
In his customary media briefing after the match, Home United coach Lee Lim Saeng shown his appreciation to the efforts shown by his team during the Ramadan period.
Said the former Korean international:"I appreciate the efforts shown by the players during the fasting (Ramadan) period, as it's not easy to play under this circumstance that I believe we will play better after it's over."
Meanwhile, Geylang's coach V Kanan also lauded the efforts shown by his team when addressing the media.
"My boys didn't give up although it was a lapse of concentration that saw them concede those goals, but they worked hard and gave them (Home United) a run for their money," said the Eagles gaffer.
Paying tribute to his opponents, the former national athletic tipped the Protectors to be the "team to take the Cup".
Said coach Kanan:"With the disposal of the players they have, I would say Home United is the team to take the Cup and Balestier can't take them on when they meet in the semis."
Home United 5-2 on aggregate over Geylang International
SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES
- Home United vs Balestier Khalsa
- Global FC vs Tanjong Pagar United
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