SAFFC top S.League with 6-0 thrashing of Albirex Niigata
Story and pictures by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports
Hat-trick hero Aleksandar Duric chasing a ball. (Photo 1 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Chua Chu Kang Stadium, Thursday, March 26, 2009 - Singapore Armed Forces FC bounced back from the heart-breaking defeat against Woodlands Wellington on Sunday to return to the top of the table with a resounding 6-0 thrashing of Albirex Niigata.
A hat-trick by national striker Aleksandar Duric, a brace by John Wilkinson and an initial strike by Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin sealed victory for the Warriors.
Warning signs were evident early on as shots from John Wilkinson and Therdsak Chaiman went close. Korean Park Tae Won also had a header clipp off the bar following a corner.
But it was Latiff who open the scoring with a delightful volley from the edge of the penalty area that went in after hitting the inside of the bar in the 32nd minute. Throughout the night, he never stopped running as he gave the Albirex defence a headache with his darting runs down the right.
The floodgates were open and Duric was next in line as he exchanged a one-two pass with Therdsak five minutes later. The latter squared it back to him and Duric made it look easy as he slotted into the back of the net.
SAFFC continued to push for more and they were rewarded when John Wilkinson got his first of the night as he turned in a corner just before half-time, giving his side a 3-0 lead at the break.
The misery didn't stop for Albirex after the interval as it took the defending champions just eight minutes for Duric to get his second. Park Tae Won found space in the box after beating his man. His shot beat the keeper, but was going wide until Duric slid in to put it into an empty net bringing the total tally to four goals.
The fifth goal would have to be the pick of the lot as a great passing movement was finished by John Wilkinson in the 74th minute. Duric controlled a cross field pass and drove into the penalty area where he held the ball despite being surrounded by Albirex defenders. A pass was then threaded to Therdsak whose first-time shot was saved by the keeper. However, John Wilkinson was on hand to tap in the rebound into an unguarded net.
A Duric chip over the keeper deep into injury time completed his hat-trick as the Warriors made it five wins out of six games.
They will next face second placed Gombak United, who drew with Woodlands Wellington, on 31st March.
An Albirex defender gets the better of Latiff. It didn’t happened too often. (Photo 2 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Hafiz Osman slides in late. (Photo 3 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
An Albirex defender tries to stop Duric after committing an error… (Photo 4 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… but the latter is too strong… (Photo 5 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… and attempts to round the keeper. (Photo 6 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The ball bounces loose… (Photo 7 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… as John Wilkinson approaches to finish… (Photo 8 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… but the players collide… (Photo 9 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… and both are disappointed at the wasted chance. (Photo 10 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Latiff sending one of his many crosses into the box. (Photo 11 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Aleksandar Duric gets the ball away from the defense. (Photo 12 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Masahiro Fukasawa is forced into a corner but keeps the ball in. (Photo 13 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Latiff celebrates SAFFC’s first goal. (Photo 14 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
High-five! (Photo 15 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
John Wilkinson watches as Duric scores his first goal. (Photo 16 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Latiff was a menace down the right. (Photo 17 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
John Wilkinson celebrates after volleying home the third while the Albirex players moan. (Photo 17 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
A bit of show-boating from Latiff… (Photo 18 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… as he drags the ball back… (Photo 19 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… and attempts a back-heel to nobody. (Photo 20 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
John Wilkinson controls the ball under the watchful eye of the Albirex defense. (Photo 21 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Park Tae Won shoots after making space for himself. (Photo 22 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
A defender slides in to stop the shot… (Photo 23 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
…but it goes past the keeper and is heading out… (Photo 24 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… until the 40-year-old Duric slides in for his second. (Photo 25 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
But his age shows as he takes some time to get up. (Photo 26 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Duric celebrates with Park while a defender lie motionless. (Photo 27 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Duric gets double-teamed. (Photo 28 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
The fifth goal starts with Duric driving into the box… (Photo 29 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… he holds the ball… (Photo 30 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… before sending a backheel to Therdsak… (Photo 31 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… who takes the shot… (Photo 32 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
… but it is saved, only for Wilkinson to tap in the rebound. (Photo 33 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
He doesn’t look too happy about getting a hat-trick does he? (Photo 34 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
Full time! (Photo 35 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)
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