Home on course

Fans would agree that Home generally did not play well. But the bottom-line is we won, and hopefully that will give us the spark to push on for greater success. You can definitely see it in the players, the eagerness to put behind all the unhappiness and misunderstanding that plagued the team before before this match and to prove that the team is still one united entity with one clear and common goal - to play well and WIN every match.Sometimes, you need catalyst like this to mesh the team, but let's not have it too often - it gives us heart attack!

(from hufc.com.sg)

"Both the team manager and the coach felt the main recipe for success was the togetherness of the players, as they took responsibilities on their shoulders. Spirit ultimately proved to be the key for this sweet success. "

Home United remained on course for the title with a hard fought 2-1 win over Albirex Niigata (S). They weathered Japanese storm as they recorded their first win over their opponents in 16 months, courtesy of a brilliant Shi Jia Yi freekick. It was not entirely pretty stuff, though his industry in midfield coupled with Kone’s dazzling wing play enchanted the crowd. The players did well enough to keep Tampines at bay for the time being.

The Protectors had made all the early running, even if a host of players had returned from international duty. Indra made the bench while Shahril Ishak started, as Goh Swee Swee was deployed at emergency right back after Rosman was wrapped in cotton wool in light of his niggling injury; the bench was almost depleted. It proved no fluke as the young lad kept to his task well, who even joined in the attack. Jia Yi had kept veteran Japanese keeper Takahashi on his toes as he put him under pressure.

Home wasted no time in taking the lead, as a sweeping move found Shahril Ishak in the clear, as he cleverly retreated to allow Jia Yi to run across. His square pass found Ludovick, who gleefully tucked home the ball with his left to put Home one up. Kone’s through ball had done the damage, as Takahashi found himself in no-man’s land.

The Ivorian connection could have extended the lead thereafter, as Diakite put his effort over, as Kone shot straight at Takahashi with him beaten, as he could not force in the rebound after the ball bounced off a defender.

Albirex meanwhile, had their moments but unfortunately it proved futile in the end. Motoshimizu, the flame-haired winger, tried as he could all night but found no chance out of Lionel. His cross found the Japanese-Brazilian Genji Nakamura but the poor lad missed an open goal on 30 minutes. Motoshimizu then aimed his shot directly at Lionel, before placing his effort way over the bar. Kone tormented his marker down the left but saw his cross-shot flash across goal, before half time.

Second half began with the Protectors intent on protecting their one-goal advantage, as the Japanese forced their way back. Their fans cheered every time when the players had the ball, but got upstaged by the magnificent HUFC Fan Club. A wonderful passing move inititated by Juma’at found Shahril Ishak then Kone, who found himself in the clear, but could not find the net. Lionel proved his worth as he made two top-drawer saves, when play was disrupted all too often by the referee’s whistle. Juma’at could have blasted Home into the lead, but the ball drifted wide.

Disaster struck on 73 minutes, as a touch of skill by forward Akira Takase, spun 360 degrees and found space, and as Shahril Alias attempted to hook the ball away, it rather unkindly looped into goal instead. Hard luck for the centre half.

Qiu Li might not have been pleased to go off, but his replacement Indra made his presence count, as the ever-obliging referee awarded a foul just outside the box two minutes from time. Up stepped our very own no.7 Jia Yi as he bent the ball past a bewildered Takahashi. 2-1 the score and cue wild celebrations in the stands.

Post-match, both the team manager and the coach felt the main recipe for success was the togetherness of the players, as they took responsibilities on their shoulders. Spirit ultimately proved to be the key for this sweet success. The shadow cast over the club for the past fortnight would have hopefully ebbed away by now, and the team would be geared for future challenges.