Aliff Shafaein scored two goals including the sensational
extra-time winner as Tampines Rovers thwarted Chonburi Province
FCs late show with an amazing comeback in the RHB Singapore Cup
grand final on Sunday evening.
Chonburi of Thailand, the first foreign side ever to reach the
final of the tournament, looked set to take the trophy from the
National Stadium when a three-minute blitz with about 15 minutes
left put them 2-0 up.
The Little Master then provided the last-gasp knockout blow,
emerging from a chaotic goalmouth melee to bring an end to two full
hours of incredible drama.
Tampines, carrying the hopes of the nation as they had vowed to
keep the trophy in Singapore before the match, demonstrated their
attacking intent as Peres de Oliveira was passed fit to start
behind the strike duo of Ahmad Latiff and Mirko Grabovac.
Chonburi meanwhile opened with a defensive-minded 4-4-2 formation,
Jetsadakorn Hemdaeng a surprise non-starter after he had picked up
a thigh injury in training.
The Thais were clearly concerned about putting more men in their
backline, after national call-ups and transfers robbed them of four
defenders who had played in earlier parts of the Cup
campaign.
Nonetheless, they retained substantial bite up front, going blow
for blow against a Tampines side desperate to end the season with a
trophy after missing out on the S.League title and the AFC
Cup.
Phaisan Pona came close to scoring for Chonburi with a wide header
off a 10th-minute corner, while Oliveiras curled free kick on 18
minutes narrowly missed the target.
It was quickly evident that both teams wanted to take the game by
the scruff of the neck, and the football leaned towards quick
movement rather than elaborate possession play.
Attack was often followed by counterattack as the ball swiftly
moved from end to end, and nowhere was this clearer than in an
exchange in the 24th minute.
Tampines started a counterattacking move after Nazri Nasir had
foiled Coulibaly Kafoumbas assault. Within 20 seconds, Latiff,
found by a good pass from deep, saw his shot inside the Chonburi
box blocked by Phaisan.
Barely another 20 seconds had elapsed when Pipob was denied by a
two-footed save from Rezal Hassan at the other end, leaving the
crowd of 18,634 drooling in expectation.
They were left gasping in the 31st minute when Latiff sent a
first-time shot high, after a free kick from midfield was sent
straight to him in a Route One lob into the box.
Rezal then trumped that with arguably the save of the match just a
minute later, barely pushing Pipobs looping header out on the
backpedal after the Chonburi captain had connected with Sarawut
Janthapans cross on the right flank.
Sarawut then tested Rezal in the 42nd minute, taking a shot
directly from a free kick on the left that the former Singapore
goalkeeper had to punch clear.
But it wasnt all heroics from the Ivorian goalkeeper, and he was
involved in a rather odd episode over the half-time break, delaying
his exit from the dressing room as he made everyone wait for
him.
Badra Ali eventually showed up close to five minutes after everyone
else, prompting Korean referee Kwon Jong Chul, clearly unamused by
the incident, to show him the yellow card before allowing the
second half to kick off.Chonburi started the second half looking
the more aggressive of the two sides, but it was Tampines who
created the better chances, Oliveira and Grabovac coming close with
three great chances within five minutes.
The Stags looked set to crank up the pressure even further with the
introduction of national striker Noh Alam Shah, who replaced
captain Nazri in the 65th minute.
But Withaya Laohakuls players were holding out well, and they were
handed a great chance to steal the lead with 16 minutes of normal
time to play when Santi conceded a free kick for a foul on the
flank.
Pipob made sure the chance counted this time, sneaking ahead of the
Tampines defence to meet Sarawuts low delivery with a flying
header not even Rezal could keep out.
Two minutes and another set-piece strike later, it was 2-0. Arthit
Sunthornphit was the scorer this time, gliding a beautiful free
kick from 35 yards out that dipped at just the right moment to go
in off the crossbar.
Suddenly Chonburi were in the driving seat, prompting Tampines
coach Vorawan Chitavanich to turn to his bench and summon Aliff
into action.
The 1.60m-tall forward came on in the 80th minute, replacing
veteran poacher Grabovac, who worked hard on the night but was
beginning to look his age with his pace fading.
The Stags still needed an opening though, and four minutes later,
they got it when Chonburis Adul Lahso, who had not been booked
before Aliffs arrival, was sent off for his second cautionable
offence in a clash with Mustafic Fahrudin.
Aduls dismissal had a psychological effect on his teammates, who
were in disarray as they tried to defend a corner less than 60
seconds later.
Somehow the defensive organization went completely missing,
allowing Aliff to meet the penalty with a left-footed volley that
emphatically bulged the net.
They got what they were looking for in the 90th minute, when
another scramble in the box ended with Santi picking up the ball
from a marginally onside position and poking it home to force extra
time.
There was still time for one last piece of positive drama though,
and Tampines provided it in the final minute of time as Aliff,
denied a shooting opportunity from a central position inside the
box, chose to pass it wide right to Latiff.
As the low return cross came in, confusion between Badra Ali and
his defender turned a sure catch into a knock-down at Aliffs feet.
In flew the shot from eight yards out, sealing Tampines third
Singapore Cup win and The Little Masters place in Stags
history.
Tampines Rovers coach Vorawan Chitavanich attributed to luck his
teams amazing comeback victory over Chonburi Province FC in the
RHB Singapore Cup final. The Stags were two goals down with less
than 15 minutes of normal time left, but found enough strength in
reserve to force extra time, before Aliff Shafaein scored the
winner.
Vorawan revealed that he had decided to take a gamble on Aliff, who
replaced Mirko Grabovac in the 80th minute after missing much of
the past month due to injury.
The diminutive strikers contributions, including the teams first
goal that triggered the turnaround, secured the clubs second
Singapore Cup triumph under Vorawans charge, which the Thai felt
tasted even sweeter than their 2004 victory.
Compared to the last time we won against Home United, this match
was much more exciting. Both matches went into extra time, but we
were leading in that one.
The 24-year-old admitted his memory of the moments before he had
scored the winning goal was a blur but was clear on his future
ambitions as his current contract with Tampines is set to
expire.
Revealing that he would like to explore the options available
overseas, Aliff was less positive about his chances of earning a
national call-up, although he would gladly accept any such
invitation.
For the moment, however, his immediate wish was to take a break
after a long season.
I really cannot remember anything that happened before my second
goal, he said.
At that moment, it was all a blur, and all I could think of was to
put the ball into the net! When I knew I couldnt do it the first
time, I decided to pass it to (Ahmad) Latiff, and when it came to
me again, I just tried to send it in.
It was a superb way to end the season for me, after I was worried
whether I could play because of a calf strain. I told myself if I
had a chance to play, I would just try my best.
Now that Ive achieved something, I may want to try playing in
Indonesia or Brunei. As for the national team, Im not thinking
that far, but if the chance comes, thatll be great!
Chonburi coach Withaya Laohakul lamented his teams inability to
hold on to a 2-0 lead, claiming that they had not learnt from
previous similar failures in Thailand.
The team, which finished in the bottom half of the 12-team Thai
provincial league this season after accumulating too many draws,
went two goals up in a three-minute blitz that seemed to be enough
to win them the trophy.
But lapses in concentration and communications allowed Tampines to
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, dashing Chonburis hopes of
becoming the first foreign team to lift the Singapore Cup.
I have to congratulate Vorawan and his team, and they gave us a
good lesson, said the 53-year-old.
We went 2-0 up with not much time left, but we lost concentration
and could not keep possession. This kind of thing has happened to
us in Thailand before, which shows the players never learnt from
the past.