Tanjong Pagar United 2-5 DPMM FC

20130616

Queenstown Stadium

Hafiz Nor ‘3, Monsef Zerka ’28; Moreira ’47, ’64, ’71, Rimkevičius ’55, ’68

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Tanjong Pagar United produced one the most Jekyll-and-Hyde performances to date as they somehow stumbled out of the Starhub League Cup, going down 5-2 at home to visitors DPMM FC.

A dream start ensued after three minutes when Hafiz Nor opened the scoring, before Monsef Zerka put his side two to the good with a shot into the same bottom corner after slaloming past his nearest marker.

The signs however were ominous as the visitors carved out chance after chance even when they were two to the good.

A crazy 24-minute spell then followed, by the end of which little could be done to salvage the result.

The Jaguars had looked in control, dominating midfield proceedongs but they were not expecting the tables to be turned in such dramatic fashion.

DPMM read a different script and ran riot, top scorer Joao Moreira first reduced arrears after the break, charging down a defensive clearance to pounce.

Arturas Rimkevičius then struck on his debut, followed by Moreira who then turned the tie completely on its head, with a long distance strike in the 64th minute.

The defence was torn to shreds when Rimkevičius had the simple task of heading into goal from a yard out, after Tale dos Santos’ knockdown.

Moreira completed the scoring with a 71st-minute penalty.

All in all, there were three red cards for Walid Lounis, Head coach Patrick Vallee and Sairol Sahari.

Man-of-the-match Hafiz in particular found no change out of their goalkeeper as a succession of attempts late on hit anywhere but the target.

With Aurélien Hérisson holding the forte in goal, Hanafi Salleh came into the side for the suspended Kamel Ramdani as John Wilkinson made his debut.

Rimkevičius, once of FBK Kaunas and FK Ekranas, and Rodrigo Tosi who returns to the club he played for 8 years ago after spells with Iraklis, Neuchâtel Xamax, Lausanne-Sport and Esteghlal, both started from the visitors.

An early save for Wardun Yussof from Zerka set the tone.

Moments later, a blocked Sazali Salleh attempt pinballed its way through to Wilkinson who then set up Hafiz – a calm, collected strike into goal!

Eight minutes on and as an attack was shaping up Moreira went on an ambitious sprint and promptly shot from the right side of midfield, a speculative effort which went nowhere.

Minutes had passed by when Benahmed collected Zerka knockdown and with one majestic thump on the half volley, had Wardun sprawling on the ground as he saved with his legs.

Next up, a gilt-edged chance missed by Moreira when he ballooned over.

Positively, Hafiz played like a man on fire as he headed straight at Wardun off Zerla’s centre.

On 22 minutes, Moreira gave Walid Lounis the slip before tearing towards goal, only for a comination of Hérisson and Anthony Aymard to thwart him; Tosi fluffed his shot thereafter.

Chances were coming in thick and fast and Moreira was at it again, forcing Hérisson into action – only this time, his attempt sailed over.

On 28 minutes, Sazali sent in a delightful cross for Zerka to slot past Wardun to make it 2-0 to the Jaguars.

Meanwhile, Hérisson was certainly leading a charmed life as his goal came under siege approaching the break.

First, Shahrazen Said brought out the best in him with a tipping save at full stretch; then as a relative spectator he watched as Tosi headed directly onto the post.

Anthony Aymard and Ahmad Latiff respectively stood tall as they cleared efforts on the line.

The dreaded second half then began, and the rest was history.

A mistake in the backline let in Moreira and despite the best efforts of Hanafi and Lounis the ball trickled into goal.

After Benahmed’s attempt was foiled by Wardun, the Wasps then had the audacity to foray upfield.

The hosts were rocked when Rimkevičius sprung the offside trap and levelled despite hints of offside.

Almost immediately, Benahmed could have put his side ahead – having given Sallehuddin Damit he slip he pumped the ball goalwards, but not past Wardun.

An absorbing encounter then churned out another twist on the hour mark when Tales dos Santos brought down a lively Latiff.

Zerka missed from the penalty spot, and how costly it proved.

Both Moreira and Rimkevičius struck in quick succession to put their noses in front.

Lounis then headed for an early shower after being ajudged to have brought down Rimkevičius in the box.

One man down after that professional foul, Moreira did not care less as he stepped up to complete his treble with 19 minutes remaining.

Substitute Sairol Sahari got his marching orders after two yellow cards in the space of a minute having brought down Hafiz.

By then, Asraf Rashid had come on and tested Wardun with a stinging set piece.

Hérisson kept to his side’s credit, keeping the score as it was by pushing Shahrazen’s freekick over the bar in stoppages.

Post match, Head coach Patrick Vallee could only lament on the mistakes that led to the soft goals, while absolving his team of blame.

“I’m disappointed only that we didn’t qualify. I don’t think we ever deserved to lose this game, after the first half; this is the first time I saw my team play like that. Chances were missed, and if you get wht I mean football can turn (its) back on you (sometimes).

“This is football and we must accept. We’ve reached our objective of getting to the quarter finals. Nevertheless, we still the the Singapore Cup; we can’t stop our work and what we do.”