Protectors snatch late penalty to draw 2-2 with Jaguars

By SANTOKH SINGH

TAKE two of Singapore soccer's better teams and match them in the semi-finals of the Tiger Beer Singapore Cup on a Sunday evening and what do you get?

A packed Bishan Stadium with more than 3,450 fans entertained to a 2-2 draw between Home United and Tanjong Pagar United.

The fans, who stayed behind for more than 15 minutes to demonstrate their passion, are probably looking forward to the return leg at the Queenstown Stadium on Saturday.

So who says that interest in the S-League is declining?

Not Robert Alberts.

Said the coach of the Home Protectors: "I think this was a good advertisement for the S-League.

"Quality football, four good goals, action throughout, technical ability and a fantastic atmosphere from both set of fans."

Ironically for the Dutchman, he may be responsible if his team gets knocked out of the Cup.

Not only did he lay the foundation for the Jaguars, where he was coach for the whole of the Tiger Beer S-League, he also recommended the player who was the architect of the Jaguars' two goals.

Australian Vlado Bozinoski, signed by Tanjong Pagar only for the Cup competitions, played a part in both his team's goals.

In the 44th minute, just one minute after Home had taken the lead through an Egmar Goncalves grounder from the top of the box, Bozinoski released Lim Soon Seng down the right flank.

The newly-recruited national player found Nicodeme Boucher with his cross and the Senegalese's strike took a deflection off Home's Yusof Hamid before sailing past the wrong-footed custodian Sergio Cleveland.

The game came to life in the second half and it was the Jaguars who began to stamp their class and took the lead in the 61st minute.

Bozinoski's clever free-kick was measured for the head of the 1.97-metre tall Boucher, who nodded it past the entire Home defence.

Said Alberts: "I think that in Bozinoski, Tanjong Pagar had one of the best players in the S-League. And he makes a difference to the team because of his excellent passes to the feet of the forwards.

"And to think of it, he was my recommendation."

But his Home team did not let him down when Stuart Young earned a penalty in the final minute.

The Englishman picked up the ball on the left edge of the box, worked his way into it and tempted S. Subramanai with the tackle before going down theatrically.

But it looked as if contact was made and referee N. Santhan, standing about three metres away, pointed to the spot.