Global withstands incredible DPMM comeback to sneak into Singapore Cup semis
SINGAPORE – Brunei DPMM showed the heart, but Global FC takes home the spoils.
The Wasps turned back a 4-0 deficit to draw the second leg 4-4, but with the Filipino club's 1-0 first leg win on Wednesday, Global progresses to the semifinals with a 5-4 aggregate scoreline in the total-goals series.
Carli De Murga trotted out a first-half performance for the ages in Singapore on Saturday that was very nearly negated by an astonishing fightback from DPMM.
The Filipino-Spaniard disturbed the net three times in the first half. Rufo Sanchez added a fourth early in the second half for Global, only for DPMM to stun the noisy Filipino crowd with four unanswered second-half goals from Lithuanian Arturas Rimkevicius and substitute Tales Dos Santos.
De Murga opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a gorgeous header past DPMM custodian Wardun Yussof. The move began with a great bit of work from Delon Patrick Yao to pry the ball from a Brunei player and offload to Misagh Bahadoran, who connected with an overlapping Jeffrey Christiaens, who then lobbed a superb cross to De Murga's forehead.
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In the 38th minute De Murga notched his second again off a counter attack. This time it was Joshua Beloya who supplied a delicious through ball that allowed Carli to nudge the ball past Yussof's right side. Again, Yao was involved in the play with a blazing run down the center of the park and a pass to Beloya.
Then in first half stoppage time De Murga picked up his hat trick, again off a counter attack, with the central midfielder gathering Paul Mulders' pass and beating Yussof anew.
In the 55th minute Rufo made it 4-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate with a lovely header into the low right corner off a Carli De Murga pass. At this point, the celebrations were in in full swing on the Global side.
And then the Gods of Football decided to pull the strings and conjure up something wild at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
It started near the hour mark when Rimkevicius concocted a beautiful volleyed one-hopper strike past Sadia to pull one back. 4-1 on the night, 5-1 aggregate.
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Six minutes later Global keeper Roland Dely Sadia injured himself and asked to be subbed before a corner kick.
In came Global #2 keeper Ed Sacapano, on loan from Army. Seeing this, DPMM mentor Vjeran Simunic immediately brought in Dos Santos, who missed the last game due to a suspension and injury.
On his very first touch the 6'5” Brazilian central defender rose into the air and from mere feet away from the goal line, nodded home for 4-2 and 5-2 aggregate.
Fifteen minutes from time Global nearly restored the four-goal aggregate advantage but Rufo's shot was expertly stopped by Yussof Wardun.
Then in the 82nd Rimkevicius picked up his double, storming down the heart of the suddenly suspect Global defense and pounding past Sacapano, making the game 4-3 and the aggregate score 5-3.
Minutes later Paul Mulders picked up a nonsensical yellow for tapping a ball into the net long after referee Leow Thiam Hoe blew his whistle for an offside violation.
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Then in the 85th Dos Santos completed the improbable comeback with yet another header goal to knot the evening's score at 4-4 and bring DPMM a goal away from forcing extra time. There is no away-goals rule in the Singapore Cup.
The drive for a fifth Brunei goal was dealt a blow when defender Pengiran Sallehuddin Damit was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Sanchez, reducing DPMM to ten men.
But that didn't stop the Wasps from getting late chances from Dos Santos, Subhi Abdilah, and Rodrigo Tosi, all of which missed the mark.
When the final whistle blew, the Global players sank to the ground, more in relief than joy, knowing that their first-half barrage was enough insurance to ensure a 5-4 aggregate victory.
“They brought on a giant and he caused problems” said Global coach Brian Reid afterwards of Dos Santos. “We seemed to lose our shape and composure after that. I'm disappointed. There's lots of work to be done. Up until they scored, we were superb.”
“He (Dos Santos) stood a foot taller than everyone else. I was nearly going to get on myself” said Reid jokingly. The Scot stands 6'3” tall and was a central defender for Glasgow Rangers back in the day.
Global now waits for tomorrow's second game in the Loyola- Tanjong Pagar United series, which the Jaguars lead 2-1 after the first leg. The winner of that tie plays Global in the two-legged semifinals in the second week of October.
You can view match highlights here on the FB page of the Great Eastern Yeo's S League.
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Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
