Home draws Red's blood

“We were better,” said Korean Super Reds Hong In Woong post-match.

(from s.league.com)

Super Reds lose 3-0 to leaders Home, but show improvement

Kay Hishammailto:Hishaminfo@sleague.com

Perhaps for the first time this season, defeat truly did not matter.

Against a rampant Home United side refusing to loosen their grip on top spot, the Korean Super Reds can at least hold their heads up high – knowing that the 3-0 reverse was not a fair reflection of the match.

As the dust settled in the first match of the second trimester of the NTUC Income–YEO’s S.League, the Super Reds are still entrenched at the foot of the table.

But they are getting better.

The Protectors had come into this game brimming with confidence after wins over Geylang and reigning champions SAFFC, but were made to work hard for their three points on the night.

With “The Icon” Indra Sahdan still hampered by injury, Home lined up with Qiu Li and Kengne Ludovick up front – ably supported by Kone Hamed and the roaming Shahril Ishak behind them.

But even with this fearsome foursome, the chances came very few and far between against a Super Reds defence held firm by Lee Sang Jin.

In midfield, skipper Lee Tae Hoon marshalled his side expertly, thwarting the visitors’ forays into their half.
For a side that had plundered 26 goals in their past 11 league games, Home found the resistance put up by the home team stifling.

But patient they were. Patient they had to be.

“This is the third time this season that we’ve played them, and it gets harder each time. They are getting better with each game and it showed tonight,” said Home United coach Vincent Subramaniam after the game.

So much so that the rampaging Protectors had their first attempt on goal only after 28 minutes, when Ludovick beat the offside trap only to have his shot parried away by an onrushing Kim Ji Soo.

Though the Super Reds were doing a brilliant job keeping the league leaders at bay, they lacked bite in attack.
Lanky 19-year-old forward Park Min Gyu proved to be too lightweight a target man for the home side, and was easily kept in check by the imposing figure of Diakite Fode Bangaly.

As well, the avenues on both wings were covered by full backs Jumaat Jantan and Home captain Rosman Sulaiman, leaving virtually no space for the Super Reds to attack.

Little wonder Home has conceded just seven goals so far.

A tight affair throughout the first half, with neither side unable to find the breakthrough, it was somewhat harsh that the Super Reds conceded the first goal in the manner that they did.

Breaking up an attack, skipper Lee played a horrible back pass that allowed Ludovick to collect the ball.
Spotting Shahril at the far post, Ludovick played in a perfect cross and with no one around, the national midfielder made no mistake as he planted his header past an unprotected Kim.

The rest of the first half continued in similar fashion, with the Super Reds keeping it tight but unable to find a way through, while the visitors waited patiently for their chances.

In the second half, a tired-looking home side came back onto the field, and that allowed the Protectors to assert more authority on the proceedings.

Still the Koreans would not falter, holding firm together in the face of seemingly overwhelming sieges.
The tie looked to be heading for an odd-goal victory for Home – unless somebody could come up with a moment of brilliance to change that.

Up stepped the S.League’s reigning Young Player of the Year – Kengne Ludovick.

The Protectors had been stringing together passes comfortably up till the 58th minute, but could not find a way past, until Ludovick collected the ball just outside the area.

With three attendants around him, the 24-year-old turned sharply before rifling in a low shot to bottom corner that gave Kim no chance to double the advantage.

Shi Jia Yi had a glorious chance to make it three on 67 minutes but Kim did well to turn the former’s stinging right-footer behind for a corner.

With legs tiring, it was Ludovick who once again dealt the killer blow two minutes later, again combining with Qiu to double his tally for the game and goal number seven for the campaign.

Though the game was dead and gone by then, admirably, the Super Reds continued to press on and gave their all until the final whistle.

“We were better,” said Korean Super Reds Hong In Woong post-match.

“It was heartbreaking to let in that first goal, but the players did not give up.

“We were a tired in the second half; a little slow and a little late reacting, but that is something we will work on,” he mused.

In the end, as oxymoronic as it may sound, tonight was a positive defeat for the Super Reds – for they showed all and sundry the character and spirit that lesser men would wield.

For coach Hong and assistant R Balasubramaniam, this game could be the start of something special – if the belief is there.

In another match at Tampines Stadium, Tampines Rovers completed a relatively easy 4-1 win over Albirex Niigata (S). Read match report here.