Match 27, 2004

Round up of the week S-league matches

March 22, 2004 Queenstown

The Jaguars continued their nightmare start to the 2004 season with another crushing defeat to the Young Lions.

The Young Lions boasted by their resounding over S-league Double Champion Home United notched up their second victory in a row thus starting their push up the table.

March 23, 2004 Bishan

S-league Double Champion Home United held Japanese Albirex Niigata to a 2-2 draw thus ending the Swans perfect start to the season.

In contrast, Issey Nakajima was the only Albirex Niigata player to have picked up a caution, but it was his challenge on youngster Imran Sahib on the Protectors right that was to prove to be costly as it paved way for Home United opening goal. From the free-kick, the ball was clear to Ali Imran who found Peres at the left end, who unselfishly laid the ball back to Surachai. The 34-yr old Thai saw his goal-bound shot go straight into Egmar, but with a stroke of luck, roll into Peres’ path. The Brazilian needed no invitation & finished off in clinical fashion from an acute angle.

Their joy though was short-lived when Albirex leveled the score-line with the very next attack. Midfield linchpin Akihiro Nakamura released Sueoka who broke the offside trap but Sean Roberts came out & parried his effort. However up to 3 Albirex Niigata players were lining up for the rebound. Shoji Yamada was the player who tap it in.

In the Second half, instead of defending the Protectors decide to take the game to Albirex Niigata & the result was the Protectors dominated the match. In form striker Egmar Goncalves was guilty of missing the chances created.

The Protectors paid for it when substitute midfielder Bong Il Lee got Albirex Niigata second goal against the run of play. From a short corner, the ball was crossed in & the Proectors played the offside trap but Bong Il Lee ran through & planted a header past Roberts who could only watch standing.

After that the Protectors nearly snatch the winner when another Sivakumar cross almost snaked into goal off an accidental clearance from defender Tatsunori Yamagata but keeper Yu Yamada make a great save to ensure the spoils were shared.

March 24, 2004 Choa Chu Kang

The Warriors put a stop to the Stags great start to the season handing them their first defeat.

The Stags had lost key defender Sead Muratovic early in the second half & his loss was felt in the defence already missing Choketawee Promrut as they lost their 1-0 advantage given to them by substitute Ismail Fitrey. The Warriors took the points with late goal by Basri Halis & Yusri Waris.

March 24, 2004 Woodlands

The Rams continued their perfect start to season with another victory over the Eagles.

The Rams had to come back from behind when the Eagles were awarded a penalty kick after the Woodlands defence made a harsh of their clearance from Rudy Khairon’s corner, with the loose ball falling to Hafiz Rahim who was eventually brought down by Woodlands keeper Yazid Yasin for a clear-cut foul. Aleksandar Duric scored from the Penalty spot.

Instead of the Eagles drawing strength from the lead it was the Rams who was fired up as they created chances after chances pinning the Eagles back. So it was no surprise when the Rams got their equaliser after Masrezwan was sent tumbling in the by Zahid Ahmad. John Wilkinson took the kick.

In the second half the story did not changed with the Rams the stronger team but they could take the lead despite the many chances falling their way. It was until a corneron the left found player-coach Simon Clark’s head inside the crowded penalty box but his effort was kicked off the line & onto the crossbar by Razaleigh Khalik. Unfortunately, the Eagles could only clear the ball to Wilkinson who returned it to the penalty area. Ahmad Latiff out jumped his marker to nod the ball down to the lurking Samawari Basri at the edge of the box to lash a low grounder past the stranded Shahril. It was amessy goal but the Rams did not mind

After that the Rams had many chances to further increase the lead but the finishing could not match the approach.

The Eagles had now just won 1 of their 4 matches & is in danger of finishing the season outside the top 3 for the first time since 2000. The Rams can go top of the league next week in their re-scheduled match against Sinchi

March 26, 2004 Toa Poyah

The Tigers finally got their 1^st win after 4 matches as they defeated Sinchi 3-2.

The match was a bore until Park Tae Won opening goal in the first half. Forded to attack the Sinchi backline opened up for the Tigers to increase the lead but the introduction of player-coach Xie Yuxin was the difference as Sinchi approach gained from his range of passing. They pulled 1 goal back but with the need to get the equaliser they found themselves short of men at the back for the Tigers third goal. Sinchi got another when Shi Jiayi scored from another of Xie Yuxin pass.

Sinchi is still pointless along with the Jaguars after 4 matches & both clubs are in danger of falling far behind the rest