August 1, 2004
Asian
Schools Football Championships
23
July – 1 August 2004
Hong Kong
Singapore lost their third/fourth placing match
against China
going down 1-4 with the only goal coming from Firdaus
Idros.
Korea finished as Champion of Asian Schools Football
Championships by beating Thailand
1-0 in the Final
All-Star treat for dedicated
S-League followers at Jalan Besar
Kelme East-West
.
Challenge Cup East 5 West 2
.
stanley ho
.
[email protected]
.
THERE was only one winner at the
Kelme East-West Challenge Cup last night. It was not the victorious East team,
who stormed to a 5-2 win, nor the determined West team, who fought gallantly
until the final whistle.
.
The winners last night were the
3,400 S-League fans who produced a cacophony of cheering and singing. They
danced the night away at Jalan Besar Stadium, an evening made all the more
memorable by the inaugural Singapore Fireworks Festival 2004 at nearby Marina Bay,
which decorated the night sky above the stadium.
.
Not that the fans were distracted
by the pyrotechnics, with S-League stars shining on the pitch.
.
The match was a telling riposte
to S-League sceptics, suggesting that Singapore's only professional sporting
league is still alive and very much kicking.
.
With prize money of $12,500 for
the winners at stake, the football on show was anything but friendly.
.
Never mind that the season is
entering a critical phase — with no less than five teams still in the hunt for
the S-League title — the players gave their all in a pulsating game that was
just reward for the S-League faithful, who sportingly tolerated a persistent
drizzle.
.
Just eight minutes into the game,
the West team were awarded a penalty after Balestier Khalsa striker Yusri Waris
was brought down in the box. Woodlands Wellington midfielder John Wilkinson
stepped up and deceived East goalkeeper Chen Si with a cheeky lob that
delighted the West fans.
.
The goal jolted the East team
into action and an avalanche of goals followed.
.
A free-kick by Geylang United's
Stewart Petrie in the 19th minute levelled the score for the East team, before
Young Lions defender Vladan Seric planted a firm header into the net at the
stroke of half-time to give East the lead.
.
In the 52nd minute, Seric found
himself on the score sheet again. This time, the giant centre-half volleyed
home an Imran Sahib corner with a flying scissors kick, a spectacular effort
that earned him the Man of the Match award.
.
"It was great to score,
although I didn't expect to score twice," said a delighted Seric. "My
second was special and I dedicate it to all the fans who turned up to support
us."
.
Two goals from Young Lions' Jamil
Ali and Sinchi Golden Throat's Zhou Yi wrapped up the victory. But the West
could at least cheer an 81st minute effort from Ryuji Sueoka, to ensure that it
was a memorable night for all concerned.
Singapore's
fixtures
25 July (Sun): Singapore 5-0 Vietnam, Shing Mun Valley, 6pm
26 July (Mon): Singapore 5-0 Brunei, Shing Mun Valley, 6pm
27 July (Tue): Singapore 1-6 Korea, Shing Mun Valley, 6pm
29 July (Thu): Singapore 1-0 Hong Kong, Siu Sia Wan, 6pm – quarter-final
30 July (Fri): Singapore (1)2-2(4) Thailand, Tsing
Yi, 4pm – semi-final
31 July (Sat): Singapore 1-4 China, Mongkok, 2pm – third/fourth
placing