April 18, 2004

April 17, 2004 Woodlands

The Rams defeated Brunei team DPMM 2-1 to advance to the Quarterfinal to join Double Champion Home United & Geylang United who got bye.

The Rams had gone in front after 3 minute when Ahmad Latiff got his first goal for his new club & after that the Rams totally dominated the opening exchanges but could not add to their lead due to the wasteful finishing of their front men. The Brunei part-timers were to make the Rams pay for that when a fantastic free-kick from the side of the Rams penalty box was curled past keeper Yazid Yasin in the 37 minute. Totally shocked by that the Rams could not master another attack for the remaining of the half.

In the next 45 minute, DPMM went down to 10 men as their captain Ali Haji Momin got his second yellow for putting an end to a Ahmad Latiff surging run into the Brunei half. Despite that the Brunei defence remained steady throughout the remaining of the match thus as the game wore on, the Rams became increasingly desperate. In the end it was left to a piece of Korean Kim Eun Cher sublime skill that saw the Rams take the lead again as Kim Eun Cher lofted the ball past the Brunei keeper in the 87 minute. That sparked a furious attempt by DPMM to launch a come-back & the Rams endure an anxious few moments before the final whistle.