Match Number:049
Date10 May 2001Time7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home TeamSingapore Armed Forces FCAway
TeamBalestier Central FC
StadiumChoa Chu KangAttendance3007
RefereeSagadevan ReddyReserve RefereeR. Vijay
Assistant Referee 1Nordin SawodiAssistant
Referee 2Megat Azman
Match CommissionerMohd Esa Muin
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match:Shahri Rahim
(Singapore Armed Forces FC)
Match Details
By Eswandy Sarip
Balestier Central lost its 5-match unbeaten record as it fell to a 9-man SAFFC side who again was on the wrong side of the red card fever. Last week we saw Md Noh Alam Shah and Nazri Nasir get their marching orders at the
Tampines Stadium. This time Razif Mahamud and 2-goal hero Mirko Grabovac were shown the exit by referee Sagadevan Reddy. Reserve referee R Vijay, was constantly booed by the home crowd.
The Warriors?fans obviously were not pleased with his handling of last Saturday抯 SAFFC loss
to Tampines Rovers.
The Tigers came to the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on a high riding streak but they were brought down to earth by the crisp finishing of Mirko Grabovac. The Croat added two more goals to bring his tally to 14 goals so far in this
season抯 campaign.
The game started furiously with both teams fighting it out in midfield. For the first half hour nothing significant happened until the 28th minute Razif Mahamud went on a 2-footed lunge on Tan Sio Beng. Referee Sagadevan Reddy promptly showed Razif the red card much to the anger of the SAFFC home crowd. But SAFFC unperturbed by
the sending-off, went on the offensive. In the 34th minute SAFFC won a free-kick. Goran Galov flew in a floater that kissed the crossbar with Tigers?keeper Hairil Amin beaten. The rebound was slid in to the goal by Mirko Grabovac who reacted so much faster than the whole Balestier backline. As if that was not enough, Mirko hit a second one in the 41st minute. Coming from the blind side, he brought down a long searching pass by Rafi Ali with such ease as hisman-marker Tigers?Faizal Jumaat was sent scampering. Mirko raced on and coolly slotted the ball beyond Hairil Amin抯 reach to put SAFFC on a 2-goal advantage by half-time.
In the 2nd half, Tigers?coach P.N Sivaji moved Darren Stewart upfront but Balestier still failed to make full use of its numerical advantage. And when Mirko Grabovac was sent off in the 77th minute for elbowing Balestier抯
Rizzal Hashim, Balestier still kept 3 defenders at the back when they should be attacking with full might to salvage the game. On most times SAFFC抯 veteran keeper Shahri Rahim thwarted Balestier time and time again. His saves off efforts by Josip Kozic, Darren Stewart and Daorueang Krongpol were vital as SAFFC held on just enough.
After the game Tigers?Sivaji says, "We came to the Choa Chu Kang Stadium, knowing that it would not be an easy game. If only SAFFC had won their last game, it would be a much easier game for us today. We could not stop Mirko. He managed to sneak in the first goal while the second goal was caused by our defensive error. I think,
urgency has put us back. With the numerical advantage, we should be more composed. I am not
really disappointed. That defeat (against SAF, with 9 men) just speaks of the different in class between these 2 teams. Before the game, we were 5 matches unbeaten. So what? I told my boys. We can only judge our performance at the
end of the first round (after meeting Clementi and Tanjong Pagar)."
On the other side, SAFFC was represented by team manager LTC Kok Wai Leong as Fandi needed to rush off to the airport to send his father-in-law off. He says, "I was surprised at how Balestier played tonight. This year's
Balestier is different from the past, they play attractive football and were all over us. I prefer to deal with the match, rather than the match officials. Personally, it is unbelievable that we finished the game with 9 men again. I am puzzled and concerned. This could go down to the history that we have received so many red cards (in a small number of games). With due respect to our next opponents, Marine Castle and Woodlands Wellington, we may face relatively easier games before we end the first round. But these red cards will bring a lot of confidence to them. Remember that we even lost our chief striker who has been getting the goals for us consistently. This is a serious problem, but it
is not a crisis. The next two games without so many key players will really test our character. I must stress that we are not a dirty team. Sometimes the players go for the ball, they cannot be half-hearted?
Singapore Armed Forces FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
9Mirko Grabovac34
9Mirko Grabovac41
Match Number:050
Date10 May 2001Time7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home Team Gombak United FCAway TeamJurong FC
StadiumBukit GombakAttendance2514
RefereeKrishan Lai GiriReserve RefereeSubash
Lazar
Assistant Referee 1Lau Kok KongAssistant Referee
2George Lee
Match CommissionerChua Peng Huat
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match:Park Tae Won
(Jurong FC)
Match Details
By Camedia
11th May 2001
The characteristics of Cobra. They strike quick and their bites are deadly.
The Jurong Cobras made 2 quick successive strikes at the heels of the Gombak Bulls in less than 3 minutes from the start at the Bukit Gombak Stadium last night.
While most of the fans are still trooping in, Park Tae Won took advantage of the unsettle defence and put to good use a cross from the left side of the field. He volley the ball past Effendy for his first goal of the night.
Before the Bulls can re-organise after the re-start, they lost the ball to A Shasi Kumar on the left again and this time E Manimohan was in the right place to slot in the ball pass Effendy for his 1st goal of the season.
The Bulls played without their regular Thai Defender Choketawee Promrut who is away for his country World Cup qualifier. Also missing is Stephen Ng. Effendy Sabtu started the match and his first touch of the ball in the first minutes
demonstrated his uneasiness as he drop an easy ball in front of his defender.
After surviving the initial shock, the Bulls begin to settle down and make a few weak attempts at the Cobras goal. However their battle were lost in the middle of the field as the Jurong Cobras read their move like a book and cut of the supply of the ball to Diallo Abdoulaye and Merzagua Adberrazzak.
The match ended in 0-2 at half time.
The Bulls came out fighting in the second half and took control of the game. Their effort soon started to reap dividend. They were awarded a penalty but to the surprise of all in the press box, no Bulls seem to want to take the spot
kick. Roslan Jasmin then step up to shoulder the responsibility but his tame shot to the extreme left of the goal post was saved by Bashir Khan.
The Gombak Bulls then send it Azhar Jamil. He did not disappoint his coach as he volley the ball pass Bashir Khan in the 75 minutes.
The Bulls were on the route to recovery but they made a huge mistake by pushing more man upfront. Park Tae Won who did a lot of running was given a free role for the night. He exploited the space left behind by the Bulls and cut short their celebration 2 minutes later.
By this time, the Bulls were completely demoralise and had Toh Choon Ming not missed 2 sitters, it would have been an embarrassing night for the Bulls.
Zakaria Awang came on in the 89 minutes; he was brought down from behind 2 minutes into injury time as the Korean snake put him through. The referee point to the spot and Park Tae Won got his hat trick for the night.
Gombak United FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
13Azhar Jamil75
Jurong FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
16Park Tae Won3
14E. Manimohan4
16Park Tae Won77
16Park Tae Won90
Match Number:051
Date11 May 2001Time7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home TeamTanjong Pagar United FCAway
TeamTampines Rovers FC
StadiumQueenstownAttendance3306
RefereeFrancis LeeReserve RefereeTimothy
Dennison
Assistant Referee 1M. GanesanAssistant Referee
2Tang Yew Mun
Match CommissionerS. Mahalingam
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match:Narongchai
Vachiraban (Tanjong Pagar United FC)
Match Details
By Chang Kay Leong
One spark of magic from Thai youngster Narongchai Vachiraban was enough to turn a sinking Tanjong Pagar back onto the road of recovery.
19-year-old Vachiraban’s wickedly veering shot from outside the box twisted itself just beyond the diving reach of Tampines keeper Norisham Zainon in the 78th minute, bringing the home side back into the game at 1-1.
Lanky midfielder Hyrizan Jufri flicked home a header from Djamel Achouri’s corner 12 minutes later, to complete the fightback and cue a blazing roar from the home crowd.
The late victory was somewhat curdled by a red card in injury time, when Algerian Achouri was sent off by referee Francis Lee for an off-the-ball incident. This match though did not contain the controversies of recent games, with
Lee handing in a competent and controlled performance.
"He saved us with that goal which made it 1-1," said Tanjong Pagar coach Tohari Paijan of Vachiraban’s strike. "And he dedicated it to the fans, for what they have been through."
A short trip back to Thailand for the homesick Vachiraban after his debut against Home United last week appeared to do the trick, as the young playmaker turned in an effervescent display in the center of the field, impressing with his
one-touch play and long-range passing.
"Next week we have Woodlands, hopefully we can get the three points, end the first third of the season with a win, and begin to do repairs in the second third of the season," said Tohari.
Yet it was nearly Tampines for the three points, after Adriano Reis put the visitors in front a minute into the second half with an arcing half volley off an Azlan Alipah cross.
The goal came after a first half filled with chances for both sides. Speedy striker Haris Sumri had the early chance in the sixth minute, but he sent his header straight into keeper Norisham’s arms.
Haris then came close twice in four minutes, first stinging a shot from the right which was well tipped over by Norisham, then slamming a scissors kick from inside the six-year box over the bar. That chance came from a cutting move from the Jaguars, with Steven Tan supplying the cross after Davor Dzelalija’s long through ball.
Tampines’ Brazilians Adriano Reis and Marcelo were not getting as much change out of the Tanjong Pagar defence as they did the previous week against SAFFC, with the Jaguars’ Ratna Suffian in particular outstanding in central defence.
The Stags’ captain Sead Muratovic had a 25m free kick well tipped over the bar by Talajic halfway through the first half, while TP’s Dzelalija came close with his own free kick two minutes before the break. But Norisham did well to push away the low shot which trickily bounced just in front of him.
After Adriano’s gut-busting goal, the Jaguars huffed in search of an equaliser, but found Tampines’ defence clamped even tighter still. Rudy Khairon sent a free kick just wide after 65 minutes, but a goal was not apparent on the
horizon for the home side before Vachiraban’s inspirational moment.
Three minutes after the equaliser, Khairon again went close with a long free kick from the left which bounced off the bar, but there was joy for the Jaguars as Hyrizan found himself unmarked in crowded penalty box, and headed past a rooted Norisham.
Achouri’s sending off gave Tampines some fading hope, but it was not to be their day when Muratovic’s shot bounced off Talajic’s left post, and was cleared.
Tanjong Pagar United FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
37Narongchai Vachiraban78
20Hyrizan Jufri90
Tampines Rovers FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
10Adriano Reis46
Tanjong Pagar United FC Substitutions
Jersey No.Player(Out) >> Player(In)Event Time
(min)
14 >> 3Steven Tan >> Erza Aripin57
10 >> 22Davor Dzelalija >> Tay Puay Guan88
Tampines Rovers FC Substitutions
Jersey No.Player(Out) >> Player(In)Event Time
(min)
17 >> 5Haffiz Nabrawi >> Syed Faruk61
Tanjong Pagar United FC Cautions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
20Hyrizan Jufri42
37Narongchai Vachiraban59
9Lim Tong Hai75
7Djamel Achouri88
Tampines Rovers FC Cautions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
3Jerry Bartholomeusz64
10Adriano Reis80
Tanjong Pagar United FC Expulsions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
7Djamel Achouri94
Match Number:052
Date11 May 2001Time7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home TeamGeylang United FCAway TeamMarine Castle
United FC
StadiumBedokAttendance2556
RefereeN SanthanReserve RefereeAbdul Malik
Assistant Referee 1K VisvanathanAssistant
Referee 2K Subramaniam
Match CommissionerSulaini Said
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match:Aleksandar Duric
(Geylang United FC)
Match Details
by Muhammad Yunus Mirza
11 May 2001
Let's just hope that Mrs Duric has a thing for balls! For the 2nd game running, Aussie Aleksandar Duric gets to bring home the match ball after a sublime performance against the winless Dolphins. The manner in which he executed his hat-trick epitomizes the fighting spirit of Geylang in their pursuit of the coveted championship. It was a well-rehearsed
all round performance by the Eagles. Credit should also be given to Marine Castle for putting up a bravado at Bedok Stadium last night. Not only had they to contain themselves with the fluent attacks stringed by the Eagles, but they also had to break free from their mundane style of play, which seems to be leading to their downfall.
Geylang signalled their seriousness in gaining all 3pts right from the whistle. They bombarded the Dolphin's defence in the opening minutes searching for the easiest route to goal. As in their mascot, they went the Eagles' way, playing
long balls behind Marine Castle's defence, in search of their towering strikers, Duric and Bothwell, but to no avail. As the game matured, Geylang adapted a more composed style of play. With Billy Bone orchestrating from the middle of
the park, they prised apart Marine's defence, utilizing the flanks and occasionally tested Marine's custodian.But thDolphins was not willing to play 2nd fiddle and they too had few tricks up theirsleeves. Thriving on through balls, they almost silenced the home crowd when Thomas English rounded his well-timed run with a well-drilled shot. Shahril Jantan barely parried the shot and before any Marine's player could pounce on the loose ball, it was cleared behind for a corner. That signalled the beginning of the "Duric" show! In the 24th min, Bothwell controlled the ball delicately in the Dolphins' penalty box, before sweetly turning the static defence to lay on the ball for an in-running
Duric to slot past Amos Boon. Barely 5 mins later,it was Bothwell's turn to score. Noor Ali saile a long ball over the vertically-challenged Marine's backline, which fell perfectly to the feets of the British. Not to be outdone by his strike partner, he bulged in an unstoppable shot.
Bothwell's goal proved to be the turning point. As Marine Castle slumped back into their own half, they were inadvertently inviting the Eagles to attack. Noor Ali's innocuous through ball to Bothwell, resulted in Geylang's 3rd
goal. Yellow carded moments earlier, Michael Lomax's frantic attempt to scurry Bothwell's cross for the ever lurking Duric, ended with the ball heading into the goalmouth rather than behind it. By then, the Dolphins' morale were as
sombre as their "kompang boys", who seemed more interested in Geylang's cheerleaders rather than the match itself. Marine Castle managed to carve out few chances of their own but was let down either by poor finishing or a lack of ideas. Whenever English or Anthony Carbone got the ball, it was more likely than ever they would look for Ashrin Shariff. Playing up front alone, he did not get much support from his team mates and was easily stopped by Zul and gang. Together with Adrian Yeo and Norisham Musahar, they however had a fairly decent game. PR Raymond
Williamson's line clearance of a Bothwell's header ensured that they went into the half only 3 goals down.
Unlike the 1st 45mins, the 2nd half started relatively slower. Geylang seemed to have dropped a gear and was comfortably passing the ball around without any impending threat. As if lulled into complacency, the Eagles allowed
Ashrin Shariff to dazzle their defence before unleashing a weakened yet on-target shot, which was cleared without much hassle. That jolted the Eagles and in similar fashion they responded when Noor Ali replicated the move and topped it up with a deflected shot which left Amos Boon stranded in no man's land for Geylang's 4th goal
of the night. It was a most fitting end for Noor Ali as he was replaced by the evergreen Kadir Yahaya 5mins later. The boys from Hougang became ever so desperate and this was manifested by their long yet aimless balls up front. The
Dolphins' also succumbed mentally when a defensive lapse by Williamson allowed youth player Syed Fadhil to outpace him before laying the ball across for Duric to tap past an advancing goalie. Duric got his hat trick and Geylang's 6th in the 70th min when he delicately chipped the ball over Boon after Sharifuddun Mahmood's long range attempt fell to his feet after running through a sea of Dolphins.
Marine Castle spent the last quarter of the game consigning themselves to long shots, which included an audacious try by English from the halfline. Alas, it was only to be routine for Jantan. Amos Boon managed to salvage some pride
for the Dolphins when he pulled off a reflex save from Syed Fadhil in the dying moments of this lop-sided affair.
Duric might have notched himself a hat trick and edged himself closer to SAFFC's Grabovac in the top scorers' chart but in general it is the 3 points that Geylang picked up which will send him to sleep. As Geylang prepares itself to host
the Protectors next Saturday, Alan Vest, on the other hand, continues contemplating on when his side will register their 1st win. After being torn apart by the team that he nurtured at such a familiar ground, your guess is as good as mine
when the Dolphins take on an under-strengthed SAFFC away next week!
19Mohd Nor ZadiMF
Geylang United FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
9Aleksandar Duric24
10Brian Bothwell29
19Noor Ali57
9Aleksandar Duric64
9Aleksandar Duric71
Marine Castle United FC Own Goal
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
4Michael Lomax33
Geylang United FC Substitutions
Jersey No.Player(Out) >> Player(In)Event Time
(min)
14 >> 2Basri Halis >> Hasrin Jailani37
2 >> 17Hasrin Jailani >> Syed Mohammad Fadhil46
19 >> 3Noor Ali >> Kadir Yahaya62
Marine Castle United FC Substitutions
Jersey No.Player(Out) >> Player(In)Event Time
(min)
6 >> 2Junaidi Kassim >> Johari Zakaria69
Geylang United FC Cautions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
12Zulkarnaen Zainal38
15William Bone45
Marine Castle United FC Cautions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
4Michael Lomax31
5Barrie Keeling73
Match Number:053
Date12 May 2001Time7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home TeamClementi Khalsa FCAway TeamHome United
FC
StadiumClementiAttendance1,951
RefereeIsmail SurdiReserve RefereeKrishan Lal
Giri
Assistant Referee 1Mohd AliAssistant Referee
2Ravi Chandran
Match CommissionerKoh Wee Kiat
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match:Indra Sahdan Daud
(Home United FC)
Match Details
By Justin Gek
Indra Sahdan Daud has shot himself into consideration for Singapore's friendly match against New Zealand at Bishan Stadium next week.
His hat-trick in the 5-0 victory over Clementi Khalsa last night at Clementi Stadium have transformed the youngster international's prospects for a starting place after skipping World Cup Qualifiers in Kuwait.
Indra’s finishing was tremendous. He was always on target with his shooting and he took more than his share of chances. Home mainained their opening sparkle and took just 19 minutes to open account.
Indra continued his scoring spree by collecting another three goals to a total of nine goals so far in this season. He scored the first two courtesy of Egmar Goncalves, who knock down a corner kick for Indra to score with a half
volley.
With the help of Egmar he scored his second in the 43rd minute who split the Elephants' defence to send the sharp shooter racing clear and completed his hat-trick from a rebound after Peres De Oliveira's hammering shot in the 78th
minutes of the game. However Indra got a yellow card for taking off his jersey after scoring his hat-trick and swung
it around his head in celebration.
Defender Sophian Ahmad Repha'ee contributed to Clementi early downfall when he got himself sent off in the 41st minute for a serious foul play on Brazilian Peres de Oliveira.
Home fourth and fifth goal came from Egmar Goncalves who score in the last six minutes of the game. He was rightly rewarded with both goals for his outstanding performance. It looked like he has gone back to his usual scoring ways
which might spell trouble to many defenders in the league.
It was a masterly performance which put the Protectors back at the top three of the table.
Home United FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
3Indra Sahdan Daud19
3Indra Sahdan Daud43
3Indra Sahdan Daud78
9Egmar Goncalves86
9Egmar Goncalves90
Clementi Khalsa FC Substitutions
Jersey No.Player(Out) >> Player(In)Event Time
(min)
24 >> 6Wisdom Chibuike Onyekwere >> Hafiz Esah70
9 >> 17Eric Francis >> A Shasi Kumar77
14 >> 13Hasnim Haron >> Sha'izad Jaffar86
Home United FC Substitutions
Jersey No.Player(Out) >> Player(In)Event Time
(min)
6 >> 4S Subramani >> Mardani Fatahollah71
14 >> 18Roniwardi Mamsa >> Sha'aban Pon78
3 >> 17Indra Sahdan Daud >> Yazid Sawal82
Clementi Khalsa FC Cautions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
8Vlado Bozinoski12
15Sophian Ahmad Repha'ee20
11Fahmie Abdullah37
9Eric Francis64
Home United FC Cautions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
3Indra Sahdan Daud78
Clementi Khalsa FC Expulsions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
15Sophian Ahmad Repha'ee41
Match Number:054
Date12 May 2001Time7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home TeamSembawang Rangers FCAway TeamWoodlands
Wellington FC
StadiumYishunAttendance1508
RefereeS K KennedyReserve RefereeTimothy Denison
Assistant Referee 1Naseer HussainAssistant
Referee 2Mohd Nassim
Match CommissionerAbros Meah
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match:Esad Sejdic
(Woodlands Wellington FC)
Match Details
By Jean-Luc Dylan
Written on 12 May 2001
No Tawan Sripan, no Thawatchai Ongtrakul, the northern ranger was a pale shadow of its former self tonight in its home match against Woodland Wellington. They lost out badly against the Rams in the midfield department. Replacing Tawan and Thawatchai are the two young Thai prime league player, Kitsana Wongbuddee and Teerasak Po-on,
both very decent young player who may had a good future ahead of them, but today there are still no where in the same league as their two senior Thai international. Like wise, in the Woodland camp, Manager Venga face the same problem as Ivica Raguz had been ruled out for the rest of the season due to an injury that requires an operation. Replacing the master of dribble is an South Africian, Grant Crawford, who is used to playing a more defensive position in the center
half. Grant did manage to stop any chance for the Rangers to take possession of the midfield in the first half, but he could do little to help Woodland in creating chances up front, which is what the Ram really need.
The effort of the two missing Thai was clearly shown thoughout the first half. Early in the 20th min, Sembawang player Taufiq Samadi almost made a bundle in the box when he hit the ball toward his own goal, if not for the cat-like
reflexes of Yazid Yasin, it would had resulted in a goal. The rest of the Rangers were unimpressive in the first half while their visitors, Woodlands Wellington, dominated the field with ease.
The first goal of the night came from no one else but Esad Sedjic, who had tons of chance tonight but he managed to convert one of them. In the 65th min, after receiving a good cross from Haslizan in the box, Esad took his time and
shoot the ball right between the leg of Yazid Yasin, who was rushing toward him. The goal however did manage to wake up the Stallions who had a quiet game before the deadlock was broken. They began to attack in a much aggressive manner. Just four minute later after conceiving a goal, the Ranger got the much needed equalizer. Substitute Imran Sahib managed to get to the ball first before Faizal Ali could recover from a previous save and the ball was blasted into the top of the net.
One could say that the Rangers were lucky to walk away with a point tonight as they were clearly outplayed by the hungry Rams. But if the Rangers want to hunt the Cobras next week without the services of Tawan Sirpan and
Thawachai Ongtrakul, they need to beware not to be bitten first by the partnership of V. Sundramoothy and Velimir Crijen.
Sembawang Rangers FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
16Imran Sahib69
Woodlands Wellington FC Goal scorers
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
11Esad Sejdic65
Sembawang Rangers FC Substitutions
Jersey No.Player(Out) >> Player(In)Event Time
(min)
9 >> 16Bamrung Boonprom >> Imran Sahib55
2 >> 14Nur Yusman >> M Ramesh67
Woodlands Wellington FC Substitutions
Jersey No.Player(Out) >> Player(In)Event Time
(min)
8 >> 16Grant Cameron Crawford >> Haslizan
Hassan60
20 >> 21Nasiruddin Sawardi >> Louis Nathan66
10 >> 14Jeykanth Jeyapal >> Faizal Sa'audi79
Woodlands Wellington FC Cautions
Jersey No.NameEvent Time (min)
8Grant Cameron Crawford21