DPMM FC finished fourth in the Singapore Cup 2023 following a 2-0 defeat to Tampines Rovers FC in the third and fourth place playoff at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore yesterday.
Tampines Rovers found the opening goal of the game in the 11th minute as Boris Kopitovic guided the ball home from close range following a cutback from Faris Ramli.
The Brunei-based outfit, who had largely untroubled the opposition, came close to level the scores as Syafiq Hilmi Shahrom’s shot brushed against the post, but the Stags doubled the lead through Faris Ramli in the 30th minute to assert his side’s dominance in the tie. Farsi’s trickery allowed him to carve some space before his shot crashed into the crossbar, much to the relief of the stranded DPMM FC goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
Two minutes later, the talented winger scored following a neat assist from a teammate. The Gegar Gegar men advanced into the knock-out stages after an unbeaten record with three wins and one draw.
However, Adrian Pennock’s charges were denied a return to the final since 2018 following a 3-0 aggregate loss to reigning holders Hougang United in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Lion City Sailors and Hougang United contested the final in a later kick-off. – Fadhil Yunus
