Arion Women’s FC outclass Young Women in Football Association of Singapore Challenge Cup final

Story by REDIntern Lee Wenting. Pictures by REDIntern Chan Hui Mui

Jalan Besar Stadium, Saturday, May 9, 2009 – Arion Women’s Football Club raised the bar for competitive club football by beating Young Women 3-1 in the 2009 edition of the Football Association of Singapore Challenge Cup final.

The win crowned their maiden championship in the 12-club tournament since a 5-1 debut defeat at the hands of the same team only four years ago.

However, the stage was set for an exciting showdown as now it was Arion who commanded the upper hand with a rich blend of youth and experience against a newly revamped Young Women, whose side boasted an average age of only 18.

Indeed, the Young Women side found themselves a goal down inside three minutes when their keeper failed to hold on to a shot from Arion winger Strasser Anna (#10), leaving striker Noor Azean Adam (#23) the easy task of a tap-in.

Young Women responded well to the early setback with their playmaker Mastura Jeilani (#11) holding fort in midfield and some telepathic one-twos down the right channel from Chris Yip (#17) and Siti Mawi (#10), but ultimately lacked the cutting edge going forward.

Arion’s sustained pressure on Young Women’s defence finally took its toll in the 24th minute as sweeping one-touch passes caught the opponent’s back four flat, and striker Noor Azean Adam fired a blistering shot at the edge of the eighteen-yard box for her brace.

Arion’s rapid waves of relentless attack paid dividends again in the 34th minute when winger Lim Shiya (#19) ran onto Sun Jie’s (#17) through-pass to send a delightful chip over the advancing keeper as her high ball dipped just under the bar.

Despite deploying a 4-5-1 formation against the more experienced Arion team, the Young Women side were clearly unable to render enough support for their lone striker upfront.

A rare counterattack from Young Women’s winger Nurul Eriqa Rafiq Geach (#19), whose shot went into the side-netting, was one of the few chances the team enjoyed in the first half.

It seemed as though the game was done and dusted by halftime as summer flies descended upon the subdued crowd at the Jalan Besar stadium, but Arion squandered numerous chances at goal to keep the scoreline at 3-0.

It was goal-mouth drama in the 51st minute as Arion threatened to run riot inside the box – winger Lim Shiya fired a low shot across goal only to clip the right post, and a rebound effort hit the other side of the post before the ball was scrambled to safety. By then Arion were in cruise control, with Coach Li Jing confident enough to make several substitutions.

A rare misplaced pass from Arion centerback Oh Hwee Chen (#14) in the 79th minute allowed substitute striker Kamaliah Hashim (#7) to round the keeper and side-foot the ball into goal. The consolation goal sparked the game briefly into life and ensured a dramatic finish to the match as Young Women chased for a double to bring the final into extra time.

As time ran out, it was the Arion side, whose name carries Greek mythological resonances, that turned out worthy winners of the final and the $3000 cash prize.

Coach Li Jing praised the effort of the young players for their successful integration with the senior players, as they are “always willing to learn”. She also related the difficulties encountered for the club’s football, as they have “no sponsors” and had to resort to selling club t-shirts to raise funds. The club also have had to constantly source for training pitches without a pitch to call their own.

On Young Women’s side, Coach Hassan Ismail regarded the final as a “bonus” for the national development squad as they had exceeded the original target of the semis. He reckoned that the young crop of players has the potential to shine and with “hard work” they will continue to “develop their individual skills and team performance”.