S .LEAGUE - SINGAPORE NEWS

  

WARRIORS BOUNCE BACK TO END TIGERS' UNBEATEN RUN

 

Written By: Kenneth Ho

Warriors FC ended a run of four league games without a win as they trounced Balestier Khalsa 4-2 at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday evening.

The result not only ended Balestier's run of eight league games without defeat, but also allowed the Warriors to leagfrog them and go into second place, just two points away from league leaders Brunei DPMM.

Fazrul Nawaz earned himself a brace, while Hafiz Rahim and Miroslav Pejic too etched their name onto the score sheet.

Yusiskandar Yusop and Poh Yifeng's dismissal early in the second half meant that Balestier were always going to struggle in the game, but they still managed to score two goals via Miroslav Kristic deep in injury time.

The opening period of the game was fairly tight, with both sides unwilling to yield.

However, a lapse in concentration by Balestier's backline allowed Fazrul to latch onto Hafiz's lob, and he coolly slot past Zaiful Nizam for the opener in the 15th minute.

Four minutes later, Pejic scored a similar goal as he ran onto Kevin McCann's pass before finishing into the bottom corner.

Ignatius Ang could have reduced the deficit for the Tigers in the 34th minute after finding himself with only Shahul Rayyan to beat, but the goalkeeper smothered the ball in the nick of time.

It could have easily been 3-0 to the Warriors just before the break when Nurullah Hussein accidentally headed the ball towards Fazrul, but the striker contrived to fire straight at Zaiful instead.

In the second half, Balestier came out battling as Kristic powered a strong header at goal, but Shahul was well-positioned to catch the ball in the 49th minute.

The Tigers' plans would start to unravel minutes later, starting with Yusiskandar's dismissal in the 53rd minute for a high-boot challenge on Pejic.

Two minutes later, Poh Yifeng followed him into the tunnel for catching Karlo Ivancic in the face with his elbow.

Their numerical disadvantage allowed Warriors to pour forward and the reigning league champions duly capitalised on it in the 58th minute.

 

Fazrul once again showcased his predatory instinct, as he raced ahead to sweep home McCann's cross from the right to make it 3-0.

The Warriors were not done yet though, with Hafiz scoring a sublime effort in the 85th minute, after his lob from 15 yards out sailed over Zaiful and into goal.

Credit to the Tigers, they never gave up and they were duly rewarded with two consolation goals deep in injury time.

First, Kristic towered above the rest to plant a header past Shahul before he ran through on goal and chipped over the onrushing goalkeeper minutes later.

However, it proved too late for the Tigers as the referee soon blew for the final whistle.

Warriors FC: Shahrul Rayyan (GK), Marcus Wheeler, Marin Vidosevic, Emmeric Ong, Miroslav Pejic, Kevin McCann (Shi Jiayi 72'), Fazrul Nawaz (Hazim Faiz 72'), Daniel Bennett (C), Irwan Shah, Hafiz Rahim, Karlo Ivancic (Hafsyar Farkhan 76')

Balestier Khalsa: Zaiful Nizam (GK) (C), Yusiskandar Yusop, Emir Lotinac, Igor Cerina, Nurullah Hussein, Zulkiffli Hassim (Hazzuwan Halim 59'), Robert Pericic (Jonathan Xu 59'), Tarik Cmajcanin (Ridwan Jamil 70'), Miroslav Kristic, Ignatius Ang, Poh Yifeng

SERGIO HELPS WASPS GO FOUR CLEAR AT THE TOP

WRITTEN BY: DWAYNE JAMES

Paulo Sergio created one and scored another in either half to send Brunei DPMM four points clear at the top of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League after a 2-0 victory over Harimau Muda last night.

Closest rivals Albirex Niigata (S) are on 31 points, while Balestier Khalsa can trim the gap to three points on Sunday evening should they beat Warriors FC, who are in fourth spot.

It was almost a perfect start for the hosts at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium after Rosmin Kamis got on the end of a Sergio free-kick in the fourth minute but he could not keep his header on target.

They came close again five minutes later but Boris Raspudic missed his connection with another Sergio free-kick at the far post.

Harimau Muda finally got into the match and had their first chance in the 16th minute with skipper Nazirul Hashim attempting a 30-yard free-kick at goal only to watch it float over.

They were on target in the 28th minute but the ball was headed straight into the hands of DPMM shotstopper Wardun Yussof.

DPMM went ahead in the 31st minute after Azwan Salleh delivered the ball into the box for Sergio.

The Portuguese forward took a quick one-touch pass to send Maududi through on goal down to left and he slotted past Harimau Muda goalkeeper Ramdhan Hamid.

They almost doubled their lead in similar fashion four minutes later with Sergio finding Azwan but the latter could not get the right touch.

Harimau Muda were on target again in the 39th minute after Ashmawi Yakin drove a low shot only to be denied by Wardun.

Harimau Muda were fortunate in the first half’s stoppage time after Ramdhan fumbled an Azwan free-kick but none of the DPMM players reacted quickly enough.

Sergio could have doubled the lead for DPMM three minutes after the interval but Ramdhan was to his equal and kept his effort from the edge of the box out.

Harimau Muda were enjoying plenty of ball possession and should have equalised in the 59th minute.

Ridzuan Abdunloh Pula was through on goal on the left and Wardun came off his line to close down the shot.

The ball was sent across the face of goal with two Harimau Muda players lurking in the danger area but Akhir Bahari only managed to find the side netting of an open goal at the far post.

Another chance came for the Malaysian side in the 67th minute with Ridzuan putting a cross into the box but Akhir could not keep his header on target.

Instead, DPMM doubled their advantage six minutes later with Sergio whipping in a free-kick from 25 yards out that beat everyone.

Ramazotti chested down another Sergio free-kick six minutes later but blasted his attempt over.

Harimau Muda were desperate but Adam Nor’s volley inside the box in the 83rd minute was off the target and Nazirul could only fire a 25-yard freekick over the bar three minutes later.

Brunei DPMM: Wardun Yussof (GK), Sairol Sahari (Najib Tarif 72'), Brian McLean, Azwan Saleh, Paulo Sergio, Hendra Azam (Indera Putera  71'), Maududi Hilmi, Rosmin Kamis (C), Boris Raspudic, Aminuddin Zakwan, Rafael Ramazotti

Harimau Muda: Ramdhan Hamid (GK), Ashmawi Yakin, Irfan Zakaria, Amirul Hisyam, Shahrul Igwan (Adam Nor 46'), Rudzuan Abdunloh Pula, Kumaahran Sathasivam, Syawal Nordin, Akhir Bahari, Nazirul Hashim (C), Annas Rahmat

TABLE STANDINGS

•  
• P
• W
• D
• L
• GD
• PTS

• 1
• Brunei DPMM FC
• 18
• 10
• 5
• 3
• 14
• 35

• 2
• Warriors FC
• 19
• 10
• 2
• 7
• -2
• 32

• 3
• Albirex Niigata FC (S)
• 18
• 9
• 4
• 5
• 8
• 31

• 4
• Balestier Khalsa FC
• 18
• 8
• 5
• 5
• 5
• 29

• 5
• Tampines Rovers FC
• 16
• 7
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 25

• 6
• Home United FC
• 18
• 5
• 8
• 5
• 3
• 23

• 7
• Harimau Muda
• 16
• 6
• 1
• 9
• -7
• 19

• 8
• Hougang United FC
• 18
• 4
• 6
• 8
• -7
• 18

• 9
• Courts Young Lions
• 16
• 4
• 3
• 9
• -10
• 15

• 10
• Geylang International FC
• 17
• 3
• 4
• 10
• -10
• 13