(from hufc.com.sg)HUFC 2: 1 Super Reds - Late minute lucky - again
"An injury time late goal by Sharil Ishak saved the day for HUFC to regain the top spot. "
Home United returned to the top of the S-League standings as Shahril Ishak’s last-gasp winner once again secured full points for the Protectors.
Just as the team thought they would squander two precious points due to a catalogue of missed chances, up stepped the returning player (after international duty) to pop up at the right end for the winning goal.
In a match full of incidents, Indra Sahdan was dubiously sent off, as promising attacking moves broke down time and again. Chief marksman Kengne Ludovick was probably unlucky on the night, as two of his best chances came off the woodwork.
The match began with Nam Woung Ki back in the heart of defence for Super Reds, as Juma’at Jantan made the bench. He had been prepared in readiness, as Harun Juma’at took his spot in the first XI.
Early pressure from Home led to the first corner, as the Koreans threatened down the flanks, all in the space of the opening five minutes. Indra could have opened the scoring inside six minutes, but a poor first touch let him down.
However, Park Byung Woo caused concern in the heart of the defence, as his nutmeg sent him en route to goal, but Mani was there to clear the danger. Mani though, was to endure a frustrating evening, as slack defending nearly slipped the game away from Home’s grasp.
The major flashpoint of the game arrived on 16 minutes, as Indra chased Rosman long ball and tussled with Super Reds’ skipper Lee Tae Hoon. While the offender deservedly got sent off with his pullback, Indra’s red card was hard to comprehend. To get sent off while trying to get out of the way is baffling.
While the red cards did little to change the course of the game, both teams lacked fluidity and cutting edge with a man short.
After a series of straightforward attempts and long-range efforts, Shi Jia Yi broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, as he expertly found the corner of the goal, after Qiu Li’s cutback down the right found him in the clear.
Unfortunately, the goal was the only thing the Protectors could show for their efforts. Six minutes before the break, Home thought they went two up, but Ludovick’s header was rather unkindly chalked off for offside.
Before Park Byung Woo hit a screamer that Lionel had to tip round the post, Ludovick had to endure the agony of seeing his stunner come off the crossbar, much to his chagrin. Shahril Ishak had made inroads down the left, which opened up space for the striker.
Action resumed after the break, which saw the Super Reds showing what they were made of, as they controlled possession. Bae Jin Soo thought he was on his way to glory, but instead of putting the ball into the net, he blazed the ball over the bar with both Harun Juma’at and Lionel beaten.
Shi Jia Yi made way for Juma’at Jantan on 77 minutes to a standing ovation, as he created countless opportunities and ran himself to the ground with his willingness to track back and defend.
Undeterred, the Super Reds gave a decent account of themselves with this display, and therefore it was no surprise when Nam Woung Ki latched onto a long ball, shook off his marker and fired past Lionel. The equaliser came on 82 minutes and left everyone wondering how Home had managed to find themselves in a quandary with the huge amount of chances they created.
Ludovick led Home’s charge in searching for a winner and nearly got it, however lady luck deserted him as his swift right foot shot struck the right post. With the clock ticking towards full time, Harun made a last ditch attempt to goal as he raced down the left. His persistence paid off when his cross, found the unmarked Sharil Ishak.
The national midfielder sent in a shot that squirmed underneath the body of the keeper in the Super Reds goal. 2-1 and the Protectors finally got out of jail with a late winner once again.
