Three red cards, four goals and a earful for the referee

By BEN NADRAJAN

OH WHAT a night! Three red cards, four excellent goals and the referee being called all sorts of names by a vociferous crowd at the Hougang Stadium.

The Jaguars eventually won a ill-tempered but exciting match 3-1 to virtually book its place in the semi-finals of the Singapore Tiger Beer Cup.

The Jaguars, leading 1-0 from a ninth minute goal from Nicodeme Boucher, was stunned when referee A.C. Ganesan reduced it to nine men in the 33rd minute.

Majid Motlagh was sent off for allegedly elbowing Harun Jumaat. Samawira Basri followed soon after for showing dissent towards the assistant referee.

Team manager Abol Fazl was furious, going onto the field to question the referee.

Fazl said after the match: "Winning or losing is not important. What we want is a good performance from everyone on the field, including the referee.''

However, Marine Castle failed to capitalise on its numerical advantage and ended the half still 1-0 down.

It was to pay dearly for it.

Tanjong Pagar came out in the second half and within two minutes, Australian Vlado Bozinoski scored a superb 30 metres free-kick to shock the Marine Castle fans.

It was his first goal for the club.

Marine Castle finally managed to get its act together, Peter Anosike testing Jaguars keeper Drajan Talajic with a fierce shot from outside the box.

However, the Dolphins kicked itself in the foot when Bernard Aryee got himself sent off for a second cautionable offence.

Marine Castle team manager Mike Wong was very disappointed after the match. Said Wong: "The second goal for Tanjong Pagar so early in the second half demoralised the whole team.

"We were also let down by some players who lacked the right attitude.''

However, Tanjong Pagar general manager Richard Woon was all praise for his team's gritty performance. He said: "I told the team at half time to cool down and just concentrate on the game. No use getting all worked up.''

Woon personally went down to the field after the match to congratulate his players for their performance.

Coach Tohairi Paijan was also overjoyed with his team's win. "This team is capable of winnning the cup. Everybody worked hard for each other. Give credit to the team, they deserved it. Every single one of them.''

Midfielder Majid Motlagh defended his sending-off, saying: "The player(Jumaat) kicked me from behind and I just turned around to confront him. Before I know it, he was lying on the ground clutching his face.''

Motlagh also added, "In all my 18 years as a professional player, I have never been sent off.''

Manager Fazl said: "All the three sending-offs were unjustified."