Ex-Ram Park Tae Won haunts former club as SAFFC inch closer to S.Leauge title

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

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Thursday, August 27, 2009 - Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) bounced back from the Home United defeat as they scraped past Woodlands Wellington thanks to a solitary goal from former Woodlands player Park Tae Won in the 75th minute.

With three points in the bag, SAFFC regained their 11 point cushion at the top of the S.League table as they look set to claim the title for a record fourth season in a roll.

Woodlands Wellington is the only team this season to take all three points from Warrior's home with a comeback 3-2 victory earlier in the season and they looked like they might cause another upset early on when Zakaria Yousif sent a speculative shot from distance over in the 7th minute.

Despite being a massive 27 points behind, Woodlands dominated the defending champions in first half as the home side struggled to move the ball around with ease. They constantly surrendered possession in the middle of the park, allowing Woodlands to take unchallenged cracks at goal.

In the 22nd minute, Shahri Musa was put through on goal, but the midfielder scuffed his shot, letting SAFFC off the hook again. He then almost turned provider at the stroke of half-time, but Ismadi Mukhtar's header was off target.

SAFFC went into the interval lucky to not to concede any goals with the scores level at 0-0.

The half-time team talk seemed to do wonders for the defending champions as they came out looking inspired and they almost took the lead when Aleksandar Duric's stinging shot from inside the area forced a reflex save by former national goalkeeper Rezal Hassan. With Theredsak Chaiman lurking, he quickly collected the rebound before the Thai could pounce on the loose ball.

Hassan was called into action again soon after, this time palming away a long range effort from Ahmad Latiff before he had to tip away Shaiful Esah's powerful freekick.

Despite having a host of chances to score and boasting plenty of possession, SAFFC failed to make it count with their final pass missing its mark as frustration began to show on the faces of the players.

But the breakthrough eventually came in the 75th minute when Aleksandar Duric was fouled in the middle of the park. His quick free kick found Chaiman who then released Latiff down the right. Although he was through on goal, he unselfishly squared it for Park Tae Won to easily tap-in against his former club.

Three minutes later, Esah almost doubled the Warrior's lead with a free kick from a good position, but it was well saved by Hassan. Soon after, Chaiman forced another save from the Woodlands custodian with a tight-angled shot after great work down the right as the defending champions wrapped up the match.

SAFFC head coach Richard Bok felt that his side had difficulty in the first half, but was glad they could collect all three points.

"My boys struggled in the first half and they were a bit frustrated. We didn't get thing going and we gave away possession too easily. But once we went in 0-0 at half-time, we reshuffled things, sending Latiff down the flank and we could have finished it earlier in the second half."

"Sometimes, we can play good football and not win. Today, we didn't play so well, but collected all three points. Of course, I want my team to play good football, but it is not possible throughout the course of the season. Three points is the most important thing at this stage."