Story by Lai Jun Wei. Photos by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports.

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Aleksandar Duric (SAFFC, #9) sends a header into the danger area. (Photo 1 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Jurong West Stadium, Tuesday, March 31, 2009 – Gombak United have leapfrogged the Singapore Armed Forces FC to take the top spot on the S.League table after they demolished the reigning champions 3-1.

It was a clash of the titans as Gombak, who have remained unbeaten this season, faced off with SAFFC who were fresh from a 6-0 thrashing of Albirex Niigata just the previous week.

Ahmad Latiff (SAFFC, #7) drew first blood when he had easy tap in past Gombak goalkeeper Fadhil Salim (Gombak, #1) just 6 minutes into the game. But this was not enough to dampen Gombak’s spirits as they equalised through golden boy Gabriel Obatola (Gombak, #20) on 31 minutes.

Kingsley Njoku (Gombak, # 16) received a pass from teammate Agu Casmir (#9) to fire one into the roof of the net on 52 minutes to give Gombak a lead. Things turned worse for SAFFC when goalkeeper Shahril Jantan (#29) brought down Emmanuel Emuejeraye (Gombak, #21) in the penalty box on 65 minutes. Gabriel Obatola converted the penalty to seal the win for the Bulls.

With John Wilkinson (SAFFC, #10) out due to a rib fracture, SAFFC were missing a key midfielder capable of putting in goals. Mustaqim Manzur (#19) was chosen to fill his rank, but he just could not make much of an impact to the game.

SAFFC started out strong as early as the first minute when Therdsak Chaiman’s (SAFFC, #8) freekick from the left corner almost went straight into the goal if not for the agile Fadhil Salim’s reflex tip over. A subsequent threat from Chaiman’s freekick was also cleared.

But SAFFC’s relentless attacks paid off when Masahiro Fukasawa (SAFFC, #6) cleared a ball into Ahmad Latiffs path. With Fadhil Salim charging forth, Latiff slotted the ball past two defenders and into goal.

Gombak had several chances, but the shots were mostly saved by Shahril. 10 minutes on, a throw in by Jeremy Chiang (Gombak, #7) to Agu Casmir saw the latter cross over to a waiting Obatola right in front of the SAFFC goal. He unfortunately missed with an acrobatic back kick, leaving the SAFFC custodian to collect the ball safely.

13 minutes on, Kingsley Njoku found yet another chance on the right flank. Hounded by an SAFFC defender, he hesitated and while trying to round his marker, completely missed an open Agu Casmir. Instead, Njoku took a pot shot at goal but it was saved by Shahril Jantan.

Chaiman’s freekick from the left corner on 17 minutes could have put in another goal for SAFFC, but it was somehow deflected off a player amidst chaos in front of the Gombak goal.

A brief scare occurred 19 minutes on when a midair contest between Kenji Arai (SAFFC, #3) and Bah Mamadou (Gombak, #6) saw both players clash heads. They recovered soon after, and minutes later, a series of passes from Kingsley Njoku and Gabriel Obatola set up another attacking chance for Gombak. Njoku wrestled the ball away from his marker and let loose a shot from just outside the penalty box, the ball just missing the goal post.

29 minutes on, Shaiful Esah (SAFFC, #2) tried to steal the ball from Emmanuel Emuejeraye with a tackle from the back. This would prove to be a pricey mistake as his tackle gave Gombak a free-kick right at the edge of the penalty box.

Off a lay-off by Jaslee Haffa (Gombak, #3), Gabriel Obatola fired off a shot that avoided the SAFFC wall and into the back of the goal.

SAFFC seemed to be lacking in the midfield as Mustaqim could not duplicate Wilkinson’s aggressiveness. Their long balls from midfield were simply not finding their mark with the SAFFC strikers out-muscled by the Gombak defenders in the penalty box.

37 minutes on, captain Aleksandar Duric (SAFFC, #9) was tripped just outside the penalty box for a free-kick. Therdsak Chaiman took the free-kick only to have it deflect off Goran Subara (Gombak, #17).

By 42 minutes, Duric had missed several chances at goal, the most recent being an excellently-placed cross by Mustaqim. Duric received a golden opportunity to redeem himself when he intercepted a pass. But his shot went straight into the arms of the oncoming Fahdil Salim.

44 minutes on, Gombak’s golden boy Gabriel Obatola was given a yellow card for his aggressive tackle on SAFFC defender Hafiz Osman (#4). A heated Obatola almost went at referee Leow Thiam Hoe if not for Agu Casmir’s restraint.

Almost like an attempt to take revenge, Osman tackled Obatola and brought down the Nigerian moments later. Obatola went straight for Osman, shadowing him aggressively with his body in a feint defending move. Daniel Bennett had to step in to stop Obatola, but the latter’s aggressiveness did not escape the eye of referee Leow and he was taken aside for a verbal warning.

Obatola, who picked up his fifth yellow card and will miss out on the next game against Brunei DPPM, can count his lucky stars that he was not awarded a red card for an immediate suspension.

With both teams tied at 1-1 at half-time, the next 45 minutes would prove to be an explosive half. A couple of missed chances dogged both teams as they could not convert. But Kingsley Kjoku’s goal 7 minutes into the second half changed the pace of the game. Confidence grew in the Gombak camp whereas SAFFC struggled to find their equaliser.

Wilkinson’s absence was sorely felt when SAFFC let through several Gombak attacks, and they themselves missed out on many golden opportunities. 57 minutes on, Obatola dribbled all the way from midfield to create a chance for Agu Casmir but the latter’s shot went wide.

59 minutes on, a corner from Chaiman saw Fahdil Salim punch the ball to the feet of Park Tae Won (SAFFC, # 18), but the latter’s grounder was of no threat, going way off the mark.

Things took a turn for the worst on 63 minutes on when a defensive error saw Shahril Jantan having no choice but to take down Emmanuel Emuejeraye to concede a penalty. Obatola’s 65th-minute conversion gave SAFFC an uphill task, needing three goals in 25 minutes to steal the win. Mustaqim’s lack of presence in the midfield also saw him being taken out for substitute defender Zulfadil Zainal Abidin (SAFFC, #21).

70 minutes on, injury added to SAFFC’s woes. This time Kenji Arai was not so lucky and had to be substituted by Razaleigh Khalik (SAFFC, #13) after being brought down by a hard tackle.

Things looked bad for SAFFC, and the loss of two key players seemed to be taking its toll on the Warriors.

On 76 minutes, substitute Zainal Abidin dribbled the ball into Gombak United’s penalty box to take a shot at the goalkeeper, only to have it bounce off right to Latiff’s foot. Latiff took the shot only to see it go sky high in what was the only credible SAFFC attack in the second half thus far.

Park Tae Won could have brought SAFFC one up 79 minutes on. After a one-on¬one with a Gombak defender, he passed the ball out to a waiting Therdsak Chaiman, only to have the latter unexpectedly pass back to him. Park was tripped as he attempted to receive the pass, and had to agonisingly see the ball roll comfortably into the hands of the Gombak custodian.

Confidence was brimming in the Gombak camp as they even took out Emmanuel Emuejeraye for Ruhaizad Ismail (Gombak, #8) in the 80th minute.

The SAFFC long-ball tactics were simply not working against Gombak United. On the other hand, Gombak were lucky that the SAFFC strikers were off form for goalkeeper Fadhil Salim gifted SAFFC chances, when his numerous failures to grab the ball saw them being punched straight into the path of waiting SAFFC players.

SAFFC were simply wasting too many opportunities as their shots were going way off their mark. A brief confrontation between Thersak Chaiman and Shafuan Sutohmoh saw the former being shown a yellow card while the latter got his second yellow card for the night.

The disappointment on the face of SAFFC coach Richard Bok was clear.

“We did not handle the physical conditioning well. Gombak played to their strength. We conceded three defensive mistakes especially on the left side. On the other side, we had many chances but we did not convert.”

“We have a new squad, small squad. We have to work with what we have. It is very competitive this year and (we can) expect a harder fight this year.”

He also commented on the team’s play with Wilkinson’s absence.

“The tactics were the same. Wilkinson is a key player and of course we miss him. But the other players have to step in.”

With the added distraction of a game against J.League champions Kashima Antlers in their AFC Champions League match next Tuesday, the Warriors look like they will have a difficult time retaining their S.League crown this year.

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Agu Casmir (Gombak, #9) is surrounded by SAFFC defenders. (Photo 2 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Shaiful Esah (SAFFC, #2) mistimed a tackle and finds the ball behind him. (Photo 3 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Agu fires in a free kick that was comfortably saved by the keeper. (Photo 4 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Shaiful Esah (SAFFC, #2) challenges Emmanuel Emuejeraye (Gombak, #21) for the ball… (Photo 5 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

… resulting in a foul just outside the area… (Photo 6 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Gabriel Obatola (Gombak, #20) tells his teammate to pass the ball to him… (Photo 7 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

… and he smashed it home! (Photo 8 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Park Tae Won (SAFFC, #18) is challenged as he drives into the box. (Photo 9 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

The Gombak keeper goes up to punch a cross clear. (Photo 10 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Park Tae Won (SAFFC, #18) finds himself surrounded by Gombak defenders. (Photo 11 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Gombak United FC

Duric sends a header wide in the closing stages of the match. (Photo 12 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)