October 21, 2004

AFC Cup 2004 Semi-finals – First Leg

It was the best defence against the best attack in the AFC Cup semi-final between Syria Cup champions Al Jaish & last season’s Singapore double winners Home United & like Euro 2004 the best defence won.

Syria Cup champions Al Jaish now have one foot in the final of the inaugural AFC Cup after thrashing Home United 4-0 at the Al Abbassiyyin Stadium in the first leg clash.

Al Jaish supported by a lively crowd of 8000 in Damascus dominated proceedings despite playing against a Home United side that went into the match as the tournament's leading scorers with 24 goals in 8 games. The visitors had started the game with 3 men - Indra, Emgar & Peres - up front but struggled to create chances against the tight Al Jaish defence that has yet to concede a goal after seven AFC Cup games but the Singaporeans had only 1 chance throughout the whole match & they could taken the lead. A Peres De Oliveira free-kick found Egmar Goncalves, whose attempt slammed against the post With the Protectors only notable chance of the game gone, Al Jaish took firm control as Mohammed Zeino broke the deadlock, heading an Iyad Al Hilou cross past goalkeeper Lionel Lewis for the only goal of the first half.

8 minutes into the second half, Al Jaish doubled their lead as Firas Ismail scored his first goal of the night with a powerful header. Ismail was on target again as he pounced on a rebound off the post to make it 3-0 for the hosts. Al Hilou then sealed an emphatic win for his side as he netted Al Jaish's fourth goal after being set up by Ziad Shaabou's neat pass

The two teams meet again next Wednesday in Singapore but Steve Darby's side have much work to do if they hope to turn around the huge deficit & reach the final of the competition.