October 4, 2004
He was written off as too old & too slow
when Rezal Hassan was
offloaded by
The former national goalkeeper repaid his
employers' faith last night with a Man-of-the-Match performance in the 4-1
extra-time win over Home United in the Big Trumpet
It was the Stags' first double.
The 28-year-old made 3 spectacular
saves in the first half, although there was nothing he could do to save Indra Sahdan equaliser
in the first half of injury time. He was first tested when he had to dive to
his left to parry a scorching 35m free-kick from Peres de Oliveira. Then he
displayed quick reflexes to smother a close range shot from Egmar
Goncalves. Finally he brilliantly tipped over a 25m
free-kick from Sutee Suksomkit.
Rezal after the match said he was not out to
prove anything. They wanted to win this match & the double for their fans
and boss Teo Hock Seng.
Another hero on the night was Noh Alam Shah who battle through the pain barrier to lead Stags
to victory.
It left him suffering excruciating
pain just quarter of an hour after giving Tampines Rovers the psychological
edge, when he put them 2-1 ahead in extra-time of the
Stretched out on the National Stadium
track, Noh Alam Shah did not know which part of his
battered body to clutch — his throbbing ribs, his swollen ankle or his agonisingly tight hamstring.
Just seconds from the final whistle
that heralded the 4-1 win against Home United, the 24-year-old Singaporean
striker hobbled with a permanent wince on his face to join his team-mates in
celebration as the referee ended the match.
After all, Noh Alam
Shah refuses to accept pain as a barrier when it's time to celebrate a real
triumph.
Alam Shah, grinning through gritted teeth said
that goal made them relax & they passed the ball around more confidently
after that. It is his first
Also he wants to dedicate that goal to
his wife, his son & all his family — plus one more addition to the family
next year!