Some match reports on HUFC latest Cup clash with the Korean Super Reds from hufc.com and sleague.com. HUFC did well to send the gutsy Korean Super Reds packing home with yet another defeat on their record. Nevertheless, I find it quite a dismay to see the foreign teams lining the bottom of the league - even Albirex - which has been in the league for some time now. Is it like what the Liaoning management said in an earlier newspaper report that it is a case of underestimating the local footballers that led to their downfall? The weather maybe? Maybe it's about time to expand our league to include more local teams since it has been proven that our local boys may be just as good, if not better than their Chinese, Korean and Jap counterparts.
(from hufc.com.sg)
Singapore Cup - HUFC 2:0 Korean Super Reds
Two first half goals from Shi Jiayi & Sharil Ishak was enough to give the Protectors a 2-0 victory over the visiting Korean Super Reds on Sunday night at the Bishan Stadium. This sets up a Q-Final clash with Woodlands Wellington FC.Home United barely got out of second gear as they comfortably swept aside Korean Super Reds with a nonchalant 2-0 victory. The result sets up yet another interesting clash in the form of Woodlands Wellington, their opponents in the next round. Watching in the stands, Woodlands coach Jorg Steinnebrunner must have rubbed his hands with glee with a third encounter imminent against the Protectors once again.
A tale of missed chances ensued throughout the match where the Protectors could and probably should have scored more. Some people would meanwhile give credit to the Koreans, through sheer effort and some good fortune, they managed to restrict Home to just two goals. Two goals in the first half practically had the result written on the wall long before the final whistle was being played out. Shahril Alias sat out the match through suspension carried over from last year; therefore it was left to Rosman Sulaiman to partner Mani in the heart of defence, while Juma’at Jantan made a welcome return to the starting XI. Kone Hamed came in for Indra Sahdan, as he made constant nuisance of himself at left midfield. However, with the game being a mere formality to most players it seemed, he did not get too many opportunities to shine.
Undeterred, it was in fact the Koreans who created the first opening chance of the match. Despite being shorn of the likes of Moon Woon Keun and Park Jae Kyu, they got out of the blocks quickly, with Park Byung Woo forcing a save from Lionel. Kone then got into the act, but with the goal at his mercy, he saw his shot blocked after a mazy run.
On 10 minutes a cross from the left bounced around, and as the Korean were trying desperately to clear, the ball dropped kindly for Jia Yi, as he lashed a first-time shot past a stranded Im Su Dong. 1-0 up with a deflection via the unfortunate Cho Se Min, and the players seemed to be enlivened. Barely 39 minutes had elapsed on the clock when Ludovick dummied and skimmed past his marker, with Shahril Ishak the grateful recipient as he nipped in to double Home’s lead.Second half began in a much more pedestrian kind of pace, with as expected the home side content to sit on their advantage, and the Koreans, with their fellow countrymen in the stands, roaring them on.
Home could have been punished against more illustrious opponents with the likes of Qiu Li and Indra, who had been sent on in place of a teammate, missing gilt-edged chances. Im Su Dong, who had such a nightmare start that he was brought of after 12 minutes on the opening day, made a few good saves to keep the score down, even if his positional sense left a few things to be desired.
The only bright sparks of the match besides the goals included the new attire donned by the HUFC fan club, as on the other side the small Korean contingent managed to keep things alive with their passionate rants and chants. After yet another series of scuffed attempts by Qiu Li, Kone and Swee Swee, the match drew to a close after three minutes of stoppages. A win and a ticket to the quarter - finals. All that remains is a stumbling block in the shape of Woodlands; no worries as the lads could be trusted to knock down that obstacle if things go their way.
Home secure passage into RHB Singapore Cup q-finals
Home United secured their passage safely into the next round of the RHB Singapore Cup when they defeated the Korean Super Reds 2-0 at the Bishan Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Shi Jiayi and Shahril Ishak were enough to see Vincent Subramaniam’s side take advantage of a Super Reds’ side that was never short on fighting spirit but clearly deficient on quality.
The players will have to thank their custodian, Im Su Dong, for keeping the scoreline low – ditto for the Korean Super Reds’ assistant coach R Balasubramaniam.
“It was definitely a much better performance than our first game here which ended 5-1," said Balasubramaniam.
“However, we conceded two very soft goals and if not for our goalkeeper (Im), they (Home United) could have scored more. He (Im) practically saved a few certain goals.
“The players put in a lot of hard work into this game but we still need to work on our defensive aspects of the game.
“Credit to Home United for putting in a good performance but at least my players made them work hard and that’s one of the positives out of this game,” Balasubramaniam praised his team.
The Korean Super Reds made a bright start to the match as early as the fourth minute when striker Choi Sang Joon calmly chested a pass from rightback U Ja Rang.
Choi swiveled and volleyed quickly but Protectors’ custodian Lionel Lewis was alert to the danger and diverted Choi’s effort past the upright.
The Protectors though stamped their authority on the match and the breakthrough came in the 11th minute.
A Kone Hamed freekick found midfielder Diakite Fode Bangaly. The Ivorian’s downward header found its way to Shi Jiayi after striker Qiu Li cleverly dummied it for his team mate.
Jiayi unleashed a powerful shot at the edge of the penalty box which defender Cho Se Min unwittingly deflected it past his keeper Im when he tried to block the midfielder’s effort.
1-0 up and another thrashing seemed to be on the cards.
However, the avalanche of goals never materialized as Im was in imperious form – pardon the pun – to frustrate the Protectors.
An example came in the 17th minute. Defender Jumaat Jantan – who replaced the suspended Shahril Alias – passed the ball with the outside of his right boot to striker Kengne Ludovick.
Defender Lee Sang Jin could not clear the danger properly and Ludovick managed to nick the ball off the 23-year old.
Kone Hamed – who impressed the crowd with his trickery and skills throughout the game – accelerated past the defenders and laid it off to Ludovick. The Cameroonian’s effort though was well saved by Im.
Im also managed to deny Qiu Li three times in the match with point-blank saves – after the striker had positioned himself well in the six-yard area on all three occasions.
For all his heroics though, Im should have done better five minutes before the interval.
Kone Hamed yet again managed to dazzle his markers and he launched a cross-field ball to strike partner Qiu Li.
Qiu Li then crossed the ball to Ludovick and he was tightly marked by Lee Sang Jin. Ludovick’s quick body feint managed to give him some room to cross the ball and Im was unable to deal with it properly.
Midfielder Shahril Ishak gleefully accepted the gift and he blasted the ball into the roof of the net to double his side’s advantage – as well as book a place into the last eight of the RHB Singapore Cup competition.
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