April 12, 2004

Roundup of the week S-league

April 6, 2004 Woodlands

The Rams go 5 points clear of their nearest challengers, the Swans after they inflict the first defeat on the Swans.

Rams top scorer Park Kung Guy fired in a hat-trick in only the first 10 minutes in the first half to send the Swans totally shocked into the dressing room.

Park Kung Guy drawn first blood after Albirex Niigata keeper Yu Yamada had done well to parry out Samawira Basri long-range effort but the rebound fell nicely for Park Kung Guy to tap into the net. As the Swans was reeling from the early blow, the Korean striker struck again. Ahmad Latiff managed to wriggle himself free down the Rams left & drilled in his cross. Park was nicely positioned to profit, controlling the ball before calmly putting it into the back of the net past a helpless Yamada. Park was now in the mood & his hat-trick when Samawira caused havocswinging in a cross for Park to volley home. The ferocity of Park effort was probably too overwhelming for the keeper to handle as Woodlands raced to an astonishing 3 goal lead in 10 minutes.

But in the second half, the Swans came back with 2 goals. Still it was not enough as the Rams held out.

Rams are the only team with a perfect 5 victory out of 5 games

April 7, 2004 Toa Poyah

The Jaguars are still winless after 5 games as they suffered their fifth defeat to the Tigers & the Tigers achieved their second victory in a row.

Balestier Tigers were gifted their opening goal when Park Tae Won, off a cross, mis-timed his volley to perfection with the ball bobbling past Naufalrudin Naim in the Jaguars goal.

But the Tigers failed to build on their good fortune & were punished when the Jaguars grabbed the equaliser. Benolt Saviat lofted in a cross from the left to the opposite corner of the area where Haris Sumri was lurking unmarked. Haris touched back to Gimmy Bade and the latter fire in an unstoppable shot that nestled in the corner of Bashir Khan’s goal.

However any joy the Jaguars had was destroyed when their keeper allowed a simple shot to go between his legs.

The second half was tense battle as the Tigers now wishing to lose their advantage packed the backline & the Jaguars unable to break them down. Chances were a rare sight.

April 8, 2004 Hougang

The Stags ensured they finished the week as runner-up when they defeated Sinchi at Hougang.

The Stags without 2 key players had to endure a tough battle from Sinchi but it was still a shocked when Sinchi took the lead. The Stags had pushed too many players up in wanting the lead & was punished when after a Rezal Hassan save from Shi Ming shot, Chen Xiao was on hand to steer the ball in from the edge of the box.

In the second half Nazri Nasir got the equaliser from a scramble in the area from a free-kick. The Chinese team never had the quality to trouble the Stags & victory was secured when Mirko Grabovac hit the winner in the 80 minutes. Substitutes Ismail Fitrey released another substitutes Aliff down the left who used his pace to beat a defender before squaring the ball across for Grabovac to tap home from close range.

April 10, 2004 Jalan Besar

Honours even at Jalan Besar as the Young Lions failed to take advanatge of an Eagles team tired from their travel in the AFC Cup & suffering a slump in form in the league.

The Young Lions drew first blood when great work by Itimi Dickson on the right flank resulted in the Nigerian firing in a cross to Syed Fadhil head at the near post to score the opening goal.

Noor Ali got both Eagles goals as substitutes Jeykanth Jeyapal curled a peach of a through-ball for Noor Ali to round Hassan Sunny before scoring the equalizer. After that, Noor Ali whacked the ball home from close range after Rudy Khairon’s freekick had came back off the crossbar.

But a late Agu Casmir goal in the last kick of the game ensured the Eagles remain in the bottom 3. Itimi Dickson a terror on the falnk all night was the creator again with a searching cross. Fadzul shot was blocked but Agu Casmir was at the right spot to slam in the precious equalizer.

April 11, 2004 Bishan

The Warriors ended Home United unbeaten record at Bishan since last year as they got advantage of the Protectors mid-week AFC Cup match against Perak.

Ashrin Shariff got both goals but he had to thanks his strike-partner Jonathon Angelucci who created both goals. Showing a striker game is not all about scoring, the tireless Australian using his wit, grace & physical strength to create both the goals that sank the Protectors.

Guarded by 2 defenders, Angelucci still managed to whip in an accurate cross from the right flank. Strike partner Ashrin Shariff got onto the end of it to propel the Warriors into the lead. As the Protectors went searching for the equaliser, holes appeared in their backline & Angelucci took a davantage of it. Spearheading the Warriors offensive, he bulldozed his way past left-back A Sivakumar before putting in a cross across the face of goal for Ashrin, alone in the box to tap in.

The Protectors pulled 1 goal back from Emgar but it was not enough.