FOREIGN TRIO BLOW CHAMPS AWAY

Goals from Oliveira, Cruz and Gama give DPMM 4-1 victory as Albirex lose again

- Ervin Ang

News of the Singapore Premier League's (SPL) decision to raise the foreign player quota from four to six was welcomed by fans at the end of 2023, as they looked forward to a more competitive, higher-quality league.

On May 25, Brunei DPMM delivered a taste of that as spectators at the Jurong East Stadium were kept on the edge of their seats by the dazzling performances of Mexican striker Julio Cruz, Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Gama and Portuguese winger Miguel Oliveira.

The trio combined for all four goals a brace from Oliveira and one goal apiece from Gama and Cruz in a 4-1 rout of defending champions Albirex Niigata.

Man-of-the-Match Oliveira, 28, told The Sunday Times: "Today I felt like we were more like a team because we controlled all the moments of the game.

"For Gama, we are partners. We both speak Portuguese so our connection is good.