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SINGAPORE: The Super Reds were favoured to make history and become the first foreign club to win a trophy in Singapore football, but Gombak United had other ideas.
The Bulls were also determined to make their own mark and proved the stronger team in the end, lifting their first piece of silverware when they beat the Super Reds 2-1 in the Avaya-J&J League Cup 2008 final at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday night.
The Super Reds not only lost the match, they also lost their discipline completely towards the end of a lively encounter, with two players receiving their marching orders.
First to go was midfielder Kim Jae Hong, who stupidly retaliated after a foul had already been awarded against Gombak in the 73rd minute.
With the scores tied at 1-1, man-of-the-match Gabriel Obatola bagged his and Gombak's second a minute from time.
Moments later, Super Reds striker Oh Ddog Yi, who was already on a yellow card, completely lost his cool in a goalmouth tussle and referee S. Kumar had no choice but send him off.
With him went the Koreans' hopes of a dramatic fightback, but in truth, the Bulls deserved their victory.
Said their coach, Swandi Ahmad: "It was a big effort by everyone and the fan club members really got behind the team tonight. They must also take a lot of credit for this win.
"We did play to our game plan tonight and it was our never-say-die attitude that gave us the victory."
Obatola opened the scoring in the 34th minute, when Super Reds goalkeeper Kang Su Ho tried to clear a loose ball, but only succeeded in hitting it straight at Obatola, who deflected the ball into the back of the net.
The Super Reds hit back just after the break with a crisply-struck free kick from Jeon Byung Euk.
Gombak showed the greater hunger and grabbed the winner after a slick passing move ended with Fazli Jaffar chipping neatly for Obatola to run onto the ball and fire home.
The Super Reds' hopes of winning all three trophies - they are behind leaders SAFFC on goal difference in the S-League and are in the last eight of the RHB Singapore Cup - were left in tatters as Gombak celebrated their first trophy in professional football.
The club had re-entered the S.League just three seasons ago, after getting their books in order and club chairman John Yap was a proud man.
"It is Swandi's first trophy too, so I am doubly-delighted," he said.
"I know Super Reds had one or two players missing, but they were the strongest team in the competition and beating them proved how well we can play.
"Now we hope to carry this form into the S.League. There's a long way to go to the end of the season."
In the play-off for third placing, Balestier Khalsa beat the Young Lions 3-2 at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Twice Balestier went into the lead and twice the Young Lions fought back, before the Tigers' Paul Bekombo grabbed what turned out to be the winner.
Said Balestier coach Nasaruddin Jalil: "We did not play our best today, but the players worked very hard and we took our goals well.
"We are used to being the underdogs, so today we felt the pressure of being the favourites."
It took Rhysh Roshan Rai just six minutes to fire Balestier ahead, in the curtain-raiser to the League Cup Final between Gombak United and the Super Reds.
V. Sundramoorthy's boys hit back just two minutes later through Sufian Anuar, but the Tigers went into the break with the lead when 23-year-old Rai netted again.
Firdaus Idros drew the Young Lions level seven minuets after half-time, but they could not respond a third time when Bekombo struck in the 72nd minute.
Balestier chairman, Balbeer Singh Mangat, was a happy man after the match.
"We decided to play in the S.League with a young team this season and it is already paying dividends," he said.
"While we will be looking for cover in some positions, we won't be making any significant changes when the transfer window opens in July."
"That's our main objective now," said coach Nasaruddin. "There are some key players we do need cover for, so we will be deciding on who we can bring in over the coming weeks as we look to climb the S.League table." - TODAY
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