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"Toa Payoh voodoo broken."

Home United were finally able to break their Toa Payoh hoodoo since October 2005 and rejoice in their comprehensive win over their central neighbours Balestier Khalsa. Two goals from Shi Jia Yi and one from Qiu Li decided the contest, as Balestier found out to their cost the strength of Home despite the suspensions of the first team players.

Home United had Kone Hamed in for the suspended Diakite in an unchanged line-up, while Balestier also had their strongest eleven available, with Abdul Rahman still being kept out of the side by J Kalaiselvan.The opening minutes of the match smelt of fireworks as both teams tussled for the ball. Undeterred, Kone sent his left footed freekick towards goal, but it went over. He got tripped in the box not long after but the referee waved played on. Ludovick tried his best to impress on his return to his former club, but seemed to get no chance out of his former colleagues. On 6 minutes, a lofted ball over the top fell for Shahril Ishak, who was marauding his way to goal when Tigers’ keeper Abdul Rasyid came charging at him. The whistle blew and up stepped Jia Yi to take charge of the penalty. 1-0 and credit to the players for taking first blood with 7 minutes gone.Balestier were known for their fighting qualities and they don’t shirk challenges. They got a foothold of the game for much of the first half before slowly ebbing away, with Home regaining control and weathered the storm towards the half time break. Abdul Rasyid was largely untroubled, as his teammate Murakami became the man of the moment, not with his goals, but with his misses. He sent in his shot from near the halfway line, but it went just wide. He then tried his second attempt, but it strayed harmlessly past the post. The same player went close, with another long-range effort, before his header whistled out of play.

With halftime looming, Vincent must have been concerned about the state of matters on the pitch, as he sought to give his players a good talking to, having ceded possession way too easily, especially in midfield. Kaze Teffo and Sueoka tried their best on their forays down the left, but found Lenan in uncompromising mood. Rosman redeemed himself just in time, as he recovered from his mistake earlier on to put in a brilliant block tackle on Kaze Teffo. Qiu Li nutmegged Fathi Yunus but hit the side netting.

On 63 minutes Shahril Alias was judged to have hauled down Murakami in the box. Up stepped Mr Ganesan to blow for the foul, and Sueoka levelled the score with a goal. 1-1 and feelings of déjà vu were evident, but Jia Yi simply did not understand, as he charged forward having set free by Indra, as he fired in a rasping shot from way out, to put Home in the lead. The space that the players were craving for was finally available when Balestiers’ Nawfal Shahib was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Later on in the match, Ridzuan and Swee Swee were brought on for Lionel and Kone, as cheers greeted their entry. But not before Qiu Li answered his prayers with a slick goal. Having dummied past three static Tigers defenders, he blasted past Rasyid from outside the box. He could have put the result beyond doubt with another goal, but the result was practically on the wall. The Tigers’ fate was sealed after three minutes of stoppages. It ended 3-1 to the Protectors, with all things set up perfectly for their next match against - none other than eternal rivals SAFFC.