Five-star Hougang United demolish Brunei DPMM 5-1 in Singapore Cup clash

SINGAPORE – With a stunning 5-1 win over pool leaders Brunei DPMM on March 15, Hougang United have blown Group A of the Singapore Cup wide open.

The Bruneian side still top the five-team group on seven points after completing all four of their games, but must hope for results elsewhere to go their way if they are to hang on to a semi-final spot.

The Cheetahs have six points from three games and will face BG Tampines Rovers (four points) on March 29 in a pivotal clash.

The Young Lions (three points), who meet Tampines on March 16 and bottom-placed Albirex Niigata on March 28, also have a shot at claiming a top-two spot.

A disappointed DPMM coach Jamie McAllister said after the demoralising defeat at the Jalan Besar Stadium: “I thought we caused our own problems, we were very timid in the first half, and we gifted them five easy goals, so it was very frustrating.

“Positives today? I can’t find that at the moment.”

Hougang coach Robert Eziakor, meanwhile, praised his charges’ team effort.

He said: “We are spot-on in terms of tactical play, except for the second half. We were a bit sloppy about the last 15 or 20 minutes, but we made a few changes, and we got back in the game.

“Everybody worked very hard, attacking and defending. Can’t single anyone out, it was a collective effort.”

Hougang drew first blood in the 20th minute, when Zulfahmi Arifin’s in-swinging corner found Daniel Henrique, who directed the ball into the net via his thigh.

It was 2-0 in the 38th minute, thanks to forward Stjepan Plazonja’s industry.

The Croat, who had lost the ball earlier, chased back to pickpocket DPMM defender Nazry Aiman and the loose ball then fell to Hougang captain Nazrul Nazari, who found Dejan Racic.

While the Montenegrin had his shot blocked, the rebound fell kindly to Shodai Yokoyama and the Japanese calmly slotted the ball home.

DPMM’s best chance of the half came two minutes into stoppage time. Gabriel Gama found Miguel Oliveira with a through-pass, but the Portuguese fired straight at Hougang custodian Kenji Rusydi.

But the Wasps pulled one back eight minutes after the restart.

A long ball from Oliveira found DPMM captain Azwan Ali, who backheeled to Davis Ikaunieks.

The Latvian striker needed no invitation to rifle into the net for his seventh goal in seven games.

But Hougang restored their two-goal cushion in the 71st minute after a mix-up in the DPMM box.

Racic saw his shot blocked by DPMM custodian Kristijan Naumovski at point-blank range, but Shahdan Sulaiman reacted the fastest to slot home the loose ball.

In the 79th minute, it was 4-1 as Plazonja sprinted up the pitch in a counter-attack and squared the ball for Racic to hit into an empty net.

The Croat then capped a five-star performance five minutes into stoppage time, calmly slotting past Naumovski after substitute Farhan Zulkifli had squared the ball to him.

Meanwhile, in a Group B match, Tanjong Pagar United pipped Geylang International 1-0 at the Jurong East Stadium, courtesy of an 83rd-minute penalty from Faizal Roslan.

The Jaguars have gone level on three points with Lion City Sailors and Balestier Khalsa, who face each other on March 16. Thai side BG Pathum United lead the group on seven points.

Analysis

Despite a slow start, Hougang eventually found their rhythm to break down a sluggish DPMM defence. The Bruneian side looked to have shaken off a poor run of form with three wins in their previous five games in all competitions, but might need to go back to the drawing board.