WWFC 3: 2 HUFC

Very sad, it's really one of those wet and miserable day when nothing we do is right. But I am sure the team can pick itself up and maybe trash the next team 7- 0! But really full credit to the Rams, they really used their horns well this time to poke the Protectors hard ... ha ha ....

"Home tasted bitter defeat for the first time this season. The Rams were
bent on coming back after some bad outings. - HUFC posting"

(from sleague.com)

Friday, April 13, 2007
Jubiliant Jorg hails team effort

Woodlands Wellington answered the critics, five days after an inglorious 6-0 defeat at the hands of S.League leaders SAFFC, by beating second placed Home United 3-2 at Woodlands Stadium on Thursday night.

Fans were treated to a decent display of football, despite the game being played on a very wet surface after heavy afternoon rain.When the Rams fell behind in the 13th minute, though, many at the ground must have wondered if we were about to witness another thrashing, but the home team rallied within three minutes to equalise and five minutes before half-time they had earned the lead.

It was the first time this season that Home United had fallen behind and with their ability it seemed unlikely they would remain in that predicament for the rest of the game.

A goal inside the first minute of the second half, however, gave Woodlands just enough of a cushion to withstand a late assault by The Protectors, whose strong finish The Rams managed to repel.Home United probably enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and with an intelligent ball from wide on the left by Kone Hamed reaching Shi Jayi, inside the area, the chance came early for them to take the lead.The Chinese-born player angled his low shot just wide of the left hand post, however, but it was not long before the visitors enjoyed some success. Kengne Ludovick’s shot was only parried by Rams’ keeper, Yazid Yasin, in the 13th minute and right in the path of Kone Hamed who gleefully drove the loose ball home.Three minute later Woodlands had fought back, in a big demonstration of their character.A low cross from the right, by Imran Sahib, exposed the Home United defence and Abdelhadi Laakkad got to the near post at just the right moment to steer the ball past Lionel Lewis.Woodlands put on a lot of pressure as the first half wound down.

In the 37th minute Laakkad had a free kick that Lewis could only push away and the defence needed to be alert and clear before the Rams’ striker could pounce, But in the 40th the Rams got the lead they had been working so hard for.

Hasrin Jailani delivered a free kick into the box and captain Ahmad Latiff flicked the ball on.A sharp turn inside the box from Imran Sahib and the ball was nestling in the back of the Home United net.“It was a great strike,“ said Woodlands’ coach, Jorg Steinebrunner, after the game. A very well-taken goal indeed.”The skipper was a huge driving force for the win and it was he who laid on the cross for the Rams’ third and defining goal.Just moments after the restart Latiff crossed hard from the left and Home United keeper, Lewis and central defender, S Subramani, appeared indecisive about who should take charge.

What should have been a simple take became a simple mistake and Laakkad was in there in a flash to poke the ball home. 3-1, then, and that made for a very surprising scoreline indeed after the home team had been 0-3 at the same stage in the previous match against the SAFFC.This time there was far more industry and self-belief and while Home United pulled a goal back in the 70th minute, after several near misses by substitute Goh Swee Swee, the Rams were able to hang on.

Ludovick tidied up, after a near-post cross from Shi Jayi, to make it 3-2.Ludovick looked set to score again ten minutes later but was brought undone by a very smart tackle from Azmi Mahamud, six yards out.Five minutes from the end some ferocious pressure from Home United looked certain to yield a third goal, but Azlan Alipah managed to hook the ball clear at the death.It was a win full of resolve and determination by Woodlands but it must be said there really was very little between the two teams on the night.

On this occasion the defence stood firm and after a recent 3-2 defeat at Albirex Niigata (Singapore) it was pleasing for Woodlands to get on the right end of the same scoreline.“We played well, but then we played well in many of our other games this season without getting a result,” said Steinebrunner.“I cannot single anyone out as it was a true team effort that got us the win tonight,” he beamed.

Home United coach, Vincent Subramaniam, was generous in defeat.“We were a little untidy at the back tonight and did not play too well but credit to Woodlands, they were on song tonight.”“There are another 27 games to go and we won’t be getting too concerned about this one loss just yet. We’ll see how significant it is once we get further into the season.”“There is still plenty of time to put things right.”

Copyright 2003, Football Association of Singapore. All rights reserved.