May 17, 2004

May 15, 2004 Toa Poyah

A late winner from Tigers top scorer Lee Ho Sung 10 minutes from time completed a magnificent comeback for them against Albirex Niigata in the Big Trumpet Singapore Cup first Round after being 1-3 down at halftime.

It was a hot-blooded affair with referee R Vijay being kept busy by the numerous tackles flying in, aided by the wet pitch. The Tigers started the game brightly and even managed to take the lead through Lee Ho Sung when the Korean striker made the most of Swans keeper Nobuhiro Maeda's hesitancy in coming out to collect a cross from the left to put his side ahead with a looping header.

Albirex hit back 11 minutes later after Hidetoshi Wakui capitalized on a mistake from Rizzal Hashim in defence to slam home the equalizer past reserve goalkeeper Zulkifli Zainolabidin, who was playing in place of the suspended Bashir Khan. Issey Nakajima then put his team ahead after overlapping right back Eiichiro Ozaki had set him up to shoot from the penalty spot. Issey Nakajima then subsequently doubled the Swans lead 1 minute before halftime with an identical effort, although the assist this time came from Ryuki Sueoka who had made an unchallenged run down the left.

With that, the Swans must have thought that they had one foot into the last 8 of the cup but Tigers Coach Jang Jung changed the complex of the game completely with an inspired substitution of Farhan Farook

Ruhaizad Ismail made way for a third striker in Farhan Farook at the interval & the switch paid dividends soon after.

The Tigers won a hotly-disputed free kick at the right touchline which was taken by Korean Kim Chan Joong. His long searching ball into the box was met by compatriot Hea Sae Gyu to power a low header past Maeda.

Referee R Vijay then incensed the Albirex players by awarding a penalty kick against them after Roniwardi Mamsa was adjudged to have been manhandled inside the box. Skipper Winston Yap took over responsibility of taking the spot kick from Hea, who had missed his effort against the Young Lions in midweek, & duly sent Maeda the wrong way with his placement.

Clearly rattled by letting their two-goal lead slip, Albirex tried to regain the initiative but they were unable to do that. Albirex Niigata was made to pay 3 minutes later when nemesis Lee Ho Sung seized onto a through ball from midfield & smashed the ball emphatically past a hapless Maeda into the bottom corner for the dramatic winner.