Singapore Cup: Global through, Loyola out, after high-scoring draws

Global held a 4-0 lead over Brunei DPMM before the Bruneian side pulled all four goals back to finish level, while Loyola and Tanjong Pagar wrestled the lead from each other numerous times before ending 3-3 on the night.

The difference for the two sides though was Global’s 1-0 victory over Brunei DPMM in the first leg, giving them a 5-4 aggregate win, while Tanjong Pagar edged Loyola 2-1 before the rousing 3-3 tie, sending the Sparks crashing out of the Singapore Cup, in two weekend games.

Almost déjà-vu for Global

Global had let 2-0 leads against Kaya slip twice, costing them the UFL title, and it was almost déjà-vu when they took a big 4-0 lead against DPMM, currently eighth in the S-League.

Carli De Murga scored a first half hat-trick, profiting from Global’s counter-attacks, before Rufo Sanchez added Global’s fourth, 10 minutes after the restart. With a comfortable 5-0 aggregate score, the fans would have been forgiven for celebrating at this point, as Global seemed safe, but Arturas Rimkevicius volleyed in to pull a goal back for DPMM before Roland Sadia was forced off through injury.

Tales Dos Santos then took to the pitch, a 6'5" center back who was given injections to help play through the pain barrier while recovering from his injury. Deployed up front due to his height, he towered over the Global defense and replacement goalkeeper Ed Sacapano, heading a goal back for his side with his first touch.

Rimkevicius then pulled another goal back for DPMM in the 85th minute, before Dos Santos headed in again to draw Brunei DPMM level on the night, though it was still a 5-4 on aggregate. Global managed to see out those nervy last few minutes and ensure the game didn’t go into extra-time with the momentum against them, to qualify for the semifinals.

For Global it will be a big lesson, as this time they escaped the comeback with an aggregate win. The better side of the two legs, by most accounts, Global now head into the semis to face Tanjong Pagar.

Sparks grounded by suspect refereeing

As for Loyola, they were the team trying to come from behind to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit versus S-League side third-placers, Tanjong Pagar.

Things started well as Park Min Ho’s scuffed shot bobbled into the net in the 37th minute after a skillful assist from Jang Jo Woong. However, just before halftime, things took a turn for the worse, as first, Tanjong Pagar restored their slender one-goal advantage through Ismael Benahmed before Park picked up his second yellow card and was sent packing, much to the annoyance of coach Vince Santos who berated the decision after the game.

That certainly changed the halftime team talk, but the Sparks came out looking to make a game of it, only for Hafiz Nor to put Tanjong ahead instead. Down but not out, Jang Jo Won scored in the 69th minute to bring Loyola 2-2 level, and 4-3 behind on aggregate.

Kamel Ramdani then looked to have won it for Tanjong Pagar as he headed in a corner for his side and extended the aggregate lead to 5-3 and Loyola seemed to have hit rock-botton when Jang Jo Won was sent off for a rash, sliding tackle four minutes from time.

Still, the UFL team pressed forward, and Chad Gould headed in a consolation goal in injury time to pull Loyola back on the night and claim a 3-3 draw while down to nine men. While the Sparks will be naturally disappointed not to have qualified, they can take some heart from their comeback try.

On to the semifinals

The second leg draws for Loyola and Global’s are now the highest scoring matches of the competition so far. With three goals, Carli De Murga is the competition’s joint top scorer while Rufo Sanchez kept up his scoring start to the Singapore Cup, netting in both games. Global will need a good performance out of their key players to take down Tanjong Pagar and restore Pinoy pride.

Scheduled for September, Global will be looking to avenge their countrymen and become the first Filipino side to reach the Singapore Cup final. A genuinely close match, it will be a fierce encounter as one of the top sides in Singapore faces off against the 2012 UFL Champions of the Philippines. - AMD, GMA News