Seng Kang edge Siglap 3-2 with last-gasp winner to finish 3rd in National C Div football

Story by Kenneth Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Ng Cheng Cong/Red Sports

Victoria Junior College, Thursday, August 5, 2010 — Seng Kang Secondary repeated their trick of scoring last-gasp goals as they managed to edge past Siglap Secondary 3-2 in an exciting National C Division third and fourth placing clash.

Their seniors managed to finish third in the National B Division Football Championship two weeks ago due to a goal scored two minutes before the end and history repeated itself in the C Division.

The game looked to be headed for extra time with both teams locked at 2-2 before Seng Kang broke Siglap’s heart with a 59th-minute goal that proved to be the winner.

Seng Kang took the lead as early as the 6th minute. A backpass from a Siglap defender looked to be directed safely into the Siglap goalkeeper’s arms before it took a bounce off the pitch. That bounce fooled the goalie as it looped over him and into the empty net, gifting Seng Kang the lead.

However it was Siglap who dominated the remaining of the half as they created a few goalscoring opportunities.

Firstly centre back Muhd Daniel B Masral curled a 30m free kick wide of the left-hand post before Muhd Fadlullah fired a looping long-range shot that went over the bar.

They eventually put the ball in the net on 20 minutes when captain Mathathir B Azeman slammed home the loose ball after a free kick but the goal was disallowed due to an earlier infringement.

Siglap was soon dealt a blow towards the end of the half as midfielder Nurulhaq B Anuar was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Having previously booked for a rough challenge on Seng Kang’s Muhd Ridhuan, Nurulhaq repeated the trick moments later on Muhd Ariyan which the referee had no choice but to sent him off.

However against the odds, Siglap managed to pull level two minutes just before the break.

They were awarded a penalty after Mathathir’s shot from inside the box was adjudged to be handled by a Seng Kang defender. Mathathir stepped up to take the spot kick himself and made no mistakes with his precise shot into the bottom left corner.

Siglap picked up where they left off in the first half as they appeared to dominate proceedings in the second. However it was Seng Kang who managed to regain their lead against the run of play on 40 minutes.

After great work down the left flank, Muhd Ariyan managed to produce a high cross into the box for fellow forward Benedict Ang. Ang capitalised as he rose unmarked to put a perfect header into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Just like the first half, Siglap managed to hit back – just a minute later.

A left-wing cross troubled Seng Kang goalkeeper Sunny Wang as he failed to deal with the high ball. The ball fell to the far post where Siglap substitute Ruzaini Zulkarnain was lurking on hand to tap home into the empty net.

The superiority in numbers began to show as Seng Kang’s 11 men manage to dominate the last 10 minutes of the game.

Firstly Muhd Haiqal flicked a header against the left-hand post before Muhd Haiqal Ashidiq’s acute angled shot shaved the same post.

Muhd Ariyan then got free in the box on 56 minutes but fired disappointingly over the bar.

That pressure finally paid off with barely a minute left on the clock. Benedict Ang’s cross-shot from the right eluded everyone in the Siglap box before falling to substitute Muhd Sahril who gleefully tapped home at the far post.

The goal broke all Siglap resistance as Seng Kang held out for the slender victory that gave them third place in the National C Division.

Seng Kang coach Mr Donald Wan appeared rather dissatisfied with his team’s showing despite the win.

“I think we didn’t improve much considering we played against 10 men,” said Mr Wan. “We gifted them two goals and it’s always individual mistakes. The first one was slack marking and for the second one, my goalkeeper didn’t jump well. If we cut out these mistakes, we will not have conceded the two goals. However I must say our goals were well-worked.”

“Siglap was a bit rough,” he said when quizzed about the difference between both teams. “They have good players but did not play collectively whereas we were better as a unit.”

“Last year we finished third in the Zone and third in the Nationals. This year we were runners-up in the Zone and finished third again in Nationals,” he added. “But I can say every year, we’re improving and edging ahead. Next year, I want a better colour, not everytime bronze!”

Final Result
Seng Kang 3
? – 6′
Benedict Ang – 40′
Muhd Sahril – 59′

Siglap 2
Mathathir B Azeman – 28′
Ruzaini Zulkarnain – 41′

Seng Kang lineup
Sunny Wang (#1, GK), Muhd Haiqal (#3), Zakaria (#4), Muhd Khalili (#16), Muhd Haiqal Ashidiq (#14), Muhd Ridhuan (#12), Mohd Rashe (#8) Erwannurrakim (#6), Benedict Sim (#5), Hafidz (#7), Muhd Ariyan (#9), Benedict Ang (#11).

Substitutes:
Muhd Aidil (#2), Mohd Syukrie (#10), Muhd Zulhelmy (#13), Muhd Zuhairi (#15), Muhd Sahril (#17), Muhd Shahiran (#18), Feddie Farhan (#19), Kenny Loh (#20).

Siglap lineup
Muhd Aidil B Rashid (#3), Mathathir B Azeman (#4, captain), Muhd Danial (#5), Muhd Raihan B Akbar (#7), Muhd Aiman B Idris (#9), Nurulhaq B Anuar (#10), Muhd Fadlullah (#13), Zulkhairi B Zainal (#14), Adli B Saiful Bahri (#15), Muhd Daniel B Masral (#20), Muhd Azrul Abdullah (#25).

Substitutes:
Nurhasbi B Mohd Hussin (#1, GK), Akmal Aqil B Salman (#2), Muhd Danial B Azman (#6), Ruzaini Zulkarnain (#8), Mohd Nurhakim B Daud (#11), Muhd Salihin B Kasim (#12), Mohd Afiq Septianto (#16), Ahmad Rusyaidee B Razali (#18), Shaikh Mohd Raziq (#19).