Singapore: A goal from Zulkiffli Hassim took Singapore’s Balestier Khalsa to top spot in Group F as they leapfrogged previous first-placed side Kitchee with a 1-0 win over the Hong Kong champions in the AFC Cup on Tuesday.
Last year, Kitchee completed a group stage double over the Singaporean side but Hassim’s (pictured) 32nd minute strike at Jalan Besar Stadium put Balestier in front and things could have been even better before half-time had captain Miroslav Kristic's penalty not been saved by Wang Zhengpeng.
And despite a second-half onslaught, Kitchee were unable to breakthrough and now share second place in Group F with Philippines side Kaya FC after their 1-0 win over Maldivian club New Radiant in the day’s other tie.
“Luck always follows the brave,” said Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic. “We should have finished off the game. We defended well, and also noticed their defence was shaky today.
“We could have created more chances to score if we were more composed with the ball.”
Kitchee began the game brightly with Lam Ka Wai, Rufino Segovia and Christian Annan all having opportunities on goal, before they nearly went ahead as Balestier defender Emir Lotinac’s attempted clearance from Lo Kwan Yee’s cross rebounded off the post.
But in Balestier’s first meaningful attack they went ahead as Muhammad Fadhil raced into the right side of the area before his low pull-back that found Hassim to rifle home just after the half-hour mark.
And the hosts could have doubled their lead just six minutes later but after Kristic was fouled in the box by Kitchee goalkeeper Wang, the latter thwarted the former with a fine diving save to keep out the resulting spot-kick.
Following the restart, Kitchee cranked up the pressure but they found Balestier goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam in fine form and, indeed, their deficit could have been extended when Hassim broke through again on 63 minutes only to shoot wide with the goal at his mercy.
The visitors continued to lay siege to Balestier’s goal but Segovia missed their best chance of a breakthrough in the final minute of the tie as he scuffed his shot from just six yards out.
“Balestier put a lot of players back to frustrate us,” said Kitchee caretaker coach Alex Chu.
“We tried to open them but they were strong in the counter-attack and not many home teams played like this.”
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