Match Number: 067
Date 31 May 2001 Time 7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home Team Clementi Khalsa FC Away Team Woodlands Wellington FC
Stadium Clementi Attendance 2,252
Referee R Vijay Reserve Referee Ismail Surdi
Assistant Referee 1 K Visanathan Assistant Referee 2 Mohd Nasim
Match Commissioner Francis Lim
Match Details
By Alvyn Lim
2,252 fans were treated to one of the most boring matches so far this season, when Clementi Khalsa played host to the visiting Woodlands Wellington. Despite 3 goals being scored, one from a penalty and another scored in the last minute of the game, the match did not live up to expectations.
Both sides were sorely missing the services of the chief strikers, Michiaki Kakimoto for Clementi, who was out on suspension, and Josko Parac for Woodlands, who was sidelined with a groin injury. Without them, both teams lacked the bite up front.
The match turned out into a very scrappy affair, with neither side able to take control of the game. The few chances that were created in the game were far from spectacular. In the 15th minute, Rams captain Jeykanth Jeyapal squared the ball into the path of Esad Sejdic after a run down the left flank. Esad s effort was high over the bar.
The only highlight of the first half must have been in the 25th minute, when the first goal was scored. A cross from the left flank by the Elephants winger Fahmie Abdullah found the path of Eric Francis. Erics neat first touch brings the ball down and slots it beyond the reach of Faizal Ali in the Woodlands goal.
The half ended with both teams struggling to gain control of the match. The replacements for their absent strikers, Hafiz Esah for Clementi and Masalan Mahat for Woodlands, did not make much of an impact. It was poor passing and aimless long balls that affected the overall entertainment quality of the match.
If fans found themselves falling asleep in the first half, they were embracing for a better second half. The fans got what they wanted. Woodlands came out from the break the better side. They soon earned a penalty in the 51st minute when Masalan was brought down. Croatian defender Petar Dajak slotted the ball into the top left hand corner for his first ever S.League goal. The fans were in for a great match, or so they thought.
The match soon deteriorated into the same old boring play where not much goalmouth action occurred. Neither team looked like scoring the elusive goal that could win the match. Both sets of forwards were constantly hauled up for offside.
In the 64th minute, Fahmies cross found Eric, who headed the ball back for Ernest Tapai. Tapais shot was blocked for a corner. In the 73rd minute, Masalan was put through behind the Clementi defence. Unfortunately, the Clementi goalkeeper blocked his shot
There was at least something to cheer about late in the game, when Clementis substitute Wisdom Onyekwere scored a late winner for his side. His header from a corner went underneath Faizals body and trickled into goal, much to the delight of the home crowd.
In the end, fans of both teams would have wished their side had played better football on the night.
Clementi Khalsa FC Goal scorers
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
9 Eric Francis 25
24 Wisdom Chibuike Onyekwere 90
Woodlands Wellington FC Goal scorers
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
2 Petar Dajak 52
Match Number: 068
Date 31 May 2001 Time 7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home Team Gombak United FC Away Team Balestier Central FC
Stadium Bukit Gombak Attendance 1967
Referee Subash Lazar Reserve Referee Timothy Dennison
Assistant Referee 1 Mohd Ali Assistant Referee 2 M Sivapergasam
Match Commissioner Koh Wee Kiat
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match: Roslan Jasmin (Gombak United FC)
Match Details
By Chang Kay Leong
Heartbreakers Balestier came away from Bukit Gombak three points up, after a last gasp goal from Ali Imran Lomri secured the win over a nine-men Gombak.
Wingback Ali's strike a minute into injury time ended the plucky resistance of the home Bulls, who defended with tenacity after red cards to Jaesni Othman and Iswandy Amil.
The cards were the turning points in an intrepid second half, as both teams attacked each other with with enthusiasm but little sharp-shooting.
A dire first half had seen forgettable and disjointed play from the home side, as they failed to trouble Balestier keeper Hairil Amin after Roslan Jasmin's 10th minute cross-shot was tipped over.
The Tigers fared a little better, but Thai striker Daorueang Krongpol was not in poaching form either, although he had a goal ruled out for offside just before the break.
If the Bulls' attack was not firing, at least their defence was standing firm. Roslan and Iswandy were deft in sweeping up potential threats with fine positioning and tackling, while keeper Effendy Subtu was calm and commanding in his penalty box.
The second 45 minutes started with more promise, as Bulls midfielder Diallo Abdullaye, with keeper Hairil stranded, just failed to connect cleanly with Eric Kwek's long cross from the right.
Krongpol had a clear look at goal after turning a defender in the 54th minute, but his shot went weakly into the hands of the impressive Effendy.
Gombak's Australian striker Alioune N?iaye then headed wide four minutes later when it perhaps looked easier to score, and midfield chief Ballamodou Conde saw his excellent looping header tipped over the bar by the agile Hairil.
Then came the first red in the 70th minute, as first Jaesni Othman foolishly elbowed Balestier? Tan Sio Beng off the ball, with referee Subash Lazar handing out the sending off after consulting his assistant. Winger Jaesni had been on the field for just seven minutes.
The second sacking also had the tang of needlessness about it. Defender Iswandy hauled down the sprinting Daorueang on the right wing earning himself his second yellow card, but his first had been for throwing the ball onto the ground in frustration.
The tide of the match had definitely turned, but Balestier were still unwilling to commit to all out attack, often keeping five defenders at the back despite having two more players.
Fortunately for them, national wingback Ali was able to slam a right foot shot into the roof of Effendy? net in the end, after his initial left footer was blocked.
The home side might feel that luck was not with them tonight, but Gombak coach Moey Yok Ham's simple summation of the match says it all: "Our own fault."
Balestier Central FC Goal scorers
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
17 Ali Imran Lomri 90
Gombak United FC Substitutions
Jersey No. Player(Out) >> Player(In) Event Time (min)
7 >> 11 Eric Kwek >> Jaesni Othman 63
17 >> 23 Alioune N'Diaye >> Haleem Hanifa 78
Balestier Central FC Substitutions
Jersey No. Player(Out) >> Player(In) Event Time (min)
15 >> 26 Aidil Sulaiman >> Daun Mathew 82
Gombak United FC Cautions
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
16 Iswandy Amil 42
8 Roy Yeo 47
16 Iswandy Amil 73
Gombak United FC Expulsions
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
11 Jaesni Othman 70
16 Iswandy Amil 73
Match Number: 069
Date 1 June 2001 Time 7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home Team Sembawang Rangers FC Away Team Home United FC
Stadium Yishun Attendance 2161
Referee Ismail Surdi Reserve Referee T. Ramesh
Assistant Referee 1 K. Visvanathan Assistant Referee 2 Tang Yew Mun
Match Commissioner Franklin Miranda
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match: Egmar Goncalves (Home United FC)
Match Details
By Ko Po Hui
It’s clear on the Home United’s agenda for their first match of this second fixture to avenge for the embarrassing loss to Sembawang Rangers early this season.
And they did it a very convincing manner, that made them final exorcised the ghost that had haunted them since the start of the campaign, with a score that read: Sembawang Rangers 1- 4 Home United.
With this eagerness to seek the victory, the Protectors mercilessly triggered a series of offences that the Stallion had a quite a hard time in absorb the pressure. Well, what to do when the home team, was not able to field its strongest first XI.
The absence of ace keeper, Yazid Yasin and Khairani Sanuci, who are currently away with the national U-23 team, the Stallions welcomed back their Thai trio, captain Tawan Sripan, Thawatchai Ongtrakul and defender, Niweat Siriwong.
As top scorer of the team, Bamrung Boonprom, was suspended, Sembawang’s Thai coach, Vorawan Chitavanich had limited option by, moving captain, Tawan to a rather unfamiliar role, as the striking partner with Ismail Fitrey.
This tactical switch hardly paid dividends, because the midfield maestro is more at ease as a creative playmaker for the team than as a goal-poaching player.
Facing with such a depleted side this time round, the Home Protectors would never simply let go this golden-opportunity to punish the host.
Therefore half an hour later following the kick-off, Protectors drew the first blood, Brazilian-born PR, Egmar Goncalves headed home from a cross from the right flank, giving subsitute keeper, Norazmi Ali Hassan, no chance.
The visitor increased their tally in the 34th minute, this time round, fellow Brazilian, Peres Oliveira, following the act of his compatriot, another great header derived from a corner play.
Sembawang pulled one back just pull before the teams headed to the tunnel, Defender Niweat Siriwong, thunderous drive through the wall of the Protectors, after the visitors keeper was judged handling a back pass, which referee Ismail Surdi, decisively awarded a indirect free kick inside the Protectors box.
Second half, saw another tactical switch for the Stallions, this time round it was Niweat Siriwong who took over the striker role. Despite his daring runs into the heartland of the formidable Home Uniteds backline, the speedy Thai defender found it a tall order to unlock the stubborn defence.
Meanwhile, on another hand, Home United continue to pile on the pressure just as that they did in the first half.
It was definitely a week of mixed feeling for the nippy striker, Indra Sahdan Daud, although he scored in the 58th minute to make it, 3-1 to the Home Uniteds advantage, he injured himself in the process of doing so, and was left with no choice but to be replaced.
The final goal of the game came in the 85th minute, with quicly taken free kick, well excute by Indra Sahdans replcement, Yazid Sawal.
Sembawang Rangers FC Goal scorers
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
3 Niweat Siriwong 36
Home United FC Goal scorers
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
9 Egmar Goncalves 30
10 Peres De Oliveira 33
3 Indra Sahdan Daud 58
17 Yazid Sawal 81
Sembawang Rangers FC Substitutions
Jersey No. Player(Out) >> Player(In) Event Time (min)
12 >> 23 Rafi Mouhamadally >> Faizal Senin 38
16 >> 22 Imran Sahib >> Adrian Jamil 72
Home United FC Substitutions
Jersey No. Player(Out) >> Player(In) Event Time (min)
3 >> 17 Indra Sahdan Daud >> Yazid Sawal 61
14 >> 18 Roniwardi Mamsa >> Sha'aban Pon 72
2 >> 16 Ong Leon Koen >> Faris Mohamed 85
No details for Match 70
Match Number: 071
Date 2 June 2001 Time 7:30:00 PM
Competition:
Home Team Tanjong Pagar United FC Away Team Marine Castle United FC
Stadium Queenstown Attendance 2,274
Referee S. K. Kennedy Reserve Referee R. Vijay
Assistant Referee 1 M. Ganesan Assistant Referee 2 Mohd Nassim
Match Commissioner Johana Johari
SLEAGUE.COM Man of the Match: Rudy Khairon (Tanjong Pagar United FC)
Match Details
By Justin Gek
Early goals from Thai Sutee Suksomkit and man of the match Rudy Khairon gave second-string Tanjong Pagar a 2-0 win against Marine Castle.
The victory was Tanjong Pagar's seventh this season and keeps them battling for a top three position.
Tohari's men upheld a four-match winning streak and claimed their first win for the second round of the season.
Thai international striker Sutee, 21, returned, without featured in any of the recent Thai World Cup qualifying matches, in midweek and was thrust into the clash with the Dolphins in place of Davor Dzelalija, the team's 10-goal-top scorer.
Tohari's injury-hit outfit, with an entire side ruled out by national under 23s duty, suspension and injury, easily controlled the game.
Tanjong Pagar, 1-0 winners on Hougang Stadium earlier this season, pulled open their patched-up defence on numerous occasions in the opening exchanges with Sutee's pace the main weapon.
Sutee raced beyond the Marine Castle backline and into the area, defender Michael Lomax upending the livewire forward, only for referee S.K. Kennedy to wave away loud appeals.
That early let-off paved the home side's upbeat start and wrapped the game up in style with two splendid goals.
Thai Sutee got the Jaguars off to an ideal start with an eight-minute goal and national player Rudy Khairon made it two on the twelve minute of the game.
A long, driven cross from wide on the right from Zainal Zainuddin found the head of little Haris Sumri, a neat touch laid into the path of strike partner Sutee Suksomkit with his right-foot shot arrowed into the top corner of the goal.
Amos Boon, ex-Tanjong Pagar goalkeeper, dived in vain to stop it
Leading the way in the centre of midfield was Rudy Khairon, whose artistry complemented the industry of Hyrizan Jufri.
The Dolphins defence, organized by the swift Michael Lomax, withstood constant Jaguars attacks. But they were vulnerable when Rudy Khairon made it 2-0 just twelve minutes into the first half with a powerful direct shot on the run in the penalty box after the Dolphins failed to clear the ball to safety.
After this bright opening the tempo of the game dropped dramatically.
In the second half, the Jaguars were simply not allowing the Dolphins to play their way back into contention as their defensive line held firm and they matched them for workrate in midfield.
Tanjong Pagar United FC Goal scorers
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
5 Rudy Khairon 13
11 Sutee Suksomkit 9
Tanjong Pagar United FC Substitutions
Jersey No. Player(Out) >> Player(In) Event Time (min)
14 >> 12 Steven Tan >> Azian Tahir 19
19 >> 27 Ahmad Ashik >> Mahadi Sukatman 58
4 >> 6 Haris Sumri >> Rudy Ali 72
Marine Castle United FC Substitutions
Jersey No. Player(Out) >> Player(In) Event Time (min)
16 >> 24 Nazir Ahmad Mohamad >> Rosman Sulaiman 59
Tanjong Pagar United FC Cautions
Jersey No. Name Event Time (min)
12 Azian Tahir 72
No Mactch 72 , 70