HUFC v.s. Liaoning

Hi folks, sorry for the delay, got a bit of trouble uploading this particular video featuring HUFC and Liaoning that took place on 10 June. Only managed to catch the first goal as well as some highlights of the match. It's also at Youtube. Enjoy.

Home down by one - for now

"This is a cup match and there’s still a lot to play for in the second leg.." - HUFC Coach, Vincent Subramaniam speaking to sleague.

We know the stumble will come one day, but to have it hit us at home at a knock-out Cup match is heartbreaking. Woodlands German coach Jorg reportedly told the sleague reporter "It's our first win against Home United in the Bishan Stadium in seven years, in any cup or league match" - good for them - but I hope it stops here for another seven years. On a day HUFC lads fought hard, controlled the match with only ten men on the field (after Kone was sent off for a second bookable foul), our trouble was getting the ball in the net. It was painful to watch. Hopefully the lads will pick themselves up and fight back in the return leg at the Ram's place. Give it to them Protectors.

All draw

(from hufc.com.sg)

The PROTECTORS lost their first half lead in a lacklustre second half performance.

Home United and Gombak fought out a tense 1-1 draw at the Jalan Besar ground on Friday night. With this result, both teams remained unbeaten at this neutral venue, although the Protectors missed a glorious opportunity to extend their four-point advantage over Tampines, with the Rovers having a game in hand.

Qiu Li went into the starting XI ahead of Kone, where he was to get no chance out of the stern Gombak defence. Meanwhile, the Bulls had Winston Yap out altogether, as the three-pronged attack of Kingsley Njoku, Gabriel Obatola and Agu Casmir started. Agu though had a major say in the outcome of the match very late on.

The first half was typical of the defences of both teams, where possession is carefully kept and space was at premium. Gombak tried to impose themselves on the game with their mean and physical brand of football, with some effect. Nonetheless, Indra had the first chance to open the scoring, as he half-volleyed wide of the goal after a neat interchange of passes fell to him. Shahril Alias had to keep himself alert all night, as he denied Kingsley with a strong tackle. In the meantime, Rosman zipped down the right on the overlap, where he would proceed to do so all night, alas there were no one to be on the receiving end of his crosses.

On 28 minutes, Theerawesin, Gombak’s Thai playmaker fell on his backside as Indra won the ball from him. He had the right idea of playing it through first time to Ludovick, who needed no second invitation to blast the ball past a diving Zaiful Nizam. The no.10 hit his shot unerringly, beneath the legs of Obadin Aikhena, and it bulged straight into the net.

As half time loomed, Diakite had a good chance to extend the lead, however, he placed his shot wide after good work by Qiu Li. Undeterred, Obatola struck from outside the box, which forced an important save out of Lionel. Precious was immense in the heart of the defence for the visitors, as they sought to prevent being overrun like the March 19 fixture where they lost 4-0.

The second half began with a similar pattern of play to that of the first period. Qiu Li was one of the players to had an off-night, as his rising shot went well over. Gombak coach Salim Moin had by then brought on Ruhaizad for the injured Obatola, who posed a threat down the right; meanwhile Agu’s effort forced a brilliant save out of Lionel as he turned and shot. Still the Bulls could make no breakthrough, as the Protectors held firm. Qiu Li was rather unfortunate to go off on 55 minutes, and as Swee Swee replaced him, the disappointment on his face showed.

Then came a series of good moves that could have nudged Home in front; Zaiful the Bulls keeper had to be alert to deny Ludovick from making something meaningful out of the through ball on 74 minutes. More pressure was piled on as the striker hit an effort, but could not get the ball past a resolute Zaiful.

Disaster struck on 79 minutes, as Agu jostled for and won the ball down the right, he went on to put the ball past a hapless Lionel to restore parity. Slack marking did the damage. Cue the wild celebrations from the Gombak fans, with scenes not too unfamiliar to their victory over SAFFC. Lionel’s fumble nearly let in Agu once more, but he recovered well. Perhaps the tiredness of the players told, as no one chased Kone’s cross after good work from him down the left. Indra’s attempt on goal went wide of the post late on.

The match ended with a share of the spoils, as the man-of-match went to our own Shahril Alias. Salim, the Gombak coach was pleased with the result, as he made glowing reviews of Agu’s performance. On the other hand, first and foremost on Vincent’s thoughts would be the encounter against Woodlands on Monday, where thankfully all players manage to come through relatively unscathed.

Protectors foray into Bull's territory

The Protectors look set to take on a stubborn and foraging bull as the latter seeks to further its recent good run at Home. Our boys have maintained a stranglehold on the leadership and is determined to make it 8 wins in a row after tonight's game.

Bring your whole family down and support the Protectors tonight as the entrance fee is waived for this game. The game will also be telecast 'Live' on Channel 5.

Match preview

The Bulls have done remarkably well in their second full season since their readmission into the league, where some stirring performances have been matched by the usual concoction of youth, vigour and strength. Never mind the new stadium, the fact that every Gombak home game is a near full house speaks volumes. Recent form also suggests things are looking very much on the up, where the team has garnered a total of ten points out of a possible fifteen, with SAFFC being put to the sword.

The Protectors meanwhile, have maintained their stranglehold on the leadership, as they did just enough to beat a resilient Liaoning side 2-1. It had been the Protectors’ eighth win in a row in league and cup. On the other hand, Gombak had already signalled their intent, by giving the Koreans a 6-1 walloping. The defence stood well and held firm, as the attack conjured up some magical moments in front of goal. The last encounter between these two sides concluded in a rather one-sided affair. 4-0 the final score and the forwards simply ran riot at Jurong West on the night. However, the likes of Precious would be out to prove they would be no mugs.

Though the Protectors may not come out of second gear in most matches, they have got what it takes to win.

Home stays at top

"Two Indra Sahdan headers and a late consolation from Li Tong lit up an otherwise dull match."

2 goals in the second half earned HUFC full points on Sunday night to dominate the lead at the top of the table.
The thorny issue of fixture congestion reared its ugly head once again as Home United laboured to a 2-1 victory over a resilient Liaoning Guangyuan side looking to build on their recent good form. Two Indra Sahdan headers and a late consolation from Li Tong lit up an otherwise dull match, as Shahril Ishak simply could not put a foot right on the night.
Lionel had arrived back home just in time from Spain to make the starting XI, as Indra was made skipper ahead of Mani, who made the bench having recovered from his hurt stomach muscle. Qiu Li drops to the bench, as Syaqir continued in midfield. Liaoning meanwhile had regular captain Zhang Haifeng benched in light of his groin strain, as Chen Bo took over the armband in an otherwise unchanged line-up. The match began rather sluggishly, as Liaoning had seemingly yet to recover from playing only three days ago, as the Protectors have their own quartet who had only just returned from a two-match stint with the U-23 national selection.
Liaoning players have had most of the possession it seemed for the majority of the first half, but they failed to make anything productive out of that. Either no one attacked the crosses or communication between teammates broke down. Fatigue was the main reason of why they performed below expectations. Which opened up opportunities for Home to exploit, but they did not.
Both Diakite and Shahril Alias had to be alert on different occasions to clear away the danger from lone striker Li Tong, as Kone’s effort could not get past the fingers of Qin Xiao the Chinese keeper. The poor pitch did not help Home’s Jia Yi’s cause as his shot went high and wide. Indra could have opened the scoring on 38 minutes but shot straight at the keeper. The second half had barely begun as a tactical masterstroke brought a goal out of the Protectors.
Juma’at and Kone exchanged passes on the left and the Singapore national player had the right idea of sending in a first time cross with his right foot and Indra gleefully accepted the invitation to nod the ball past Qin in the Liaoning goal. 1-0 and it seemed a long time coming, but it was probably no less than what Home deserved. They upped the ante further when Indra once again popped up in the right place at the right time to prod the ball home, after the static Liaoning defence dealt with Jia Yi’s corner less than convincingly. In between those two moments was the awfully missed penalty by Qiu Li, whose body position did not suggest he would be spot on, and it proved.
Replacement keeper Wang Haoyi had the last laugh after coming on for Qin (who had to be carried after a clash of bodies with Ludovick), and he guessed the right way to palm away his fluffed spot kick. With the lead secured, the Protectors seemed content to hold on to their two-goal advantage. Lionel was kept on his toes occasionally by the likes of Yao Li and Li Zheng, who tested him with a series of attempts. They finally got their reward a minute from time as Li Tong nipped in to plant a header past the despairing reach of Lionel, after good work on the right by Peng Zhiyi.
Both coaches lamented after the game about the fatigue that affected the players. While all Liaoning could do at present is to look for reinforcements to the squad, the Protectors have it all in their hands to prove their doubter wrong, by winning again and again.

Of kids and football

I cannot remember exactly which day this was, or exactly why I drove past that place. To cut a long story short, I was driving past the old Police Academy and saw a lot of kids going in with full soccer gear + lots of giggling and cheer. So being a kay-poh I drove in, parked by the side and just took a 5 minutes break to watch the many matches taking place there. The field (and it's a big field) was peppered with vibrant color jerseys donned by eager little kids (primary school I think) playing or waiting for their turn to play soccer. It was a H20 sponsored event, I think, but I am not sure what the competition was about. But considering their age, I must say kids nowadays play good football man. They are nimble, quick, smart and playing their hearts out --- that's where the future of our football lies. Amongst them maybe our next Fandi or Sundram. It was a joy watching them, and I'm glad I took some time (albeit short) to watch them play --- made my day.