SAFFC close in on S.League title after beating Geylang United

By Koh Yizhe/Red Sports

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Wednesday, September 9, 2009 – Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) took a huge step towards their fourth consecutive S.League title as they fought from a goal down to hammer Geylang United 4-1.

The win extends SAFFC's lead at the summit of the S.League table to a massive 14 points with only six games remaining. The victory was also sweet revenge for the Warriors after the Singapore Cup semi-finalist knocked them out in the opening round of the Singapore Cup.

Geylang took a shock lead against the run of play with captain Noor Ali leading by example with a header at the far post. However, a brace from Therdsak Chaiman gave SAFFC the lead within 12 minutes while Aleksandar Duric's clinical strike and Rastislav Belicak's own goal sealed a brilliant first half blitz for the Warriors.

Apart from an early shot from Masrezwan Masturi, SAFFC dominated the early goings with Therdsak orchestrating things from the midfield, limiting play to Geylang's half. He also had a shot at goal, but it was well blocked by the defense.

John Wilkinson had a crack at goal that failed to trouble Yazid Yasin, before Geylang broke the deadlock on 20 minutes against the run of play.

A cross from national defender Baihakki Khaizan from inside the box was met by the head of Noor Ali at the far post that easily flew past Shahril Jantan.

Geylang's lead barely lasted five minute before great ball movement from the defending champions resulted in the equaliser. Aleksandar Duric hooked it to the onrushing John Wilkinson who squared the ball across goal. The defense only manage to clear the ball as far as Therdsak, who side-step a defender, before smashing it home.

Seven minutes later, Therdsak stuck again. Park Tae Won went down hard under a Rastislav Belicak challenge in the area. No penalty was given, but Therdsak was first to pounce on the loose ball just outside the area to give SAFFC the lead.

There was no stopping the defending champions from then as they continued to push for more. Top scorer Aleksandar Duric fortified his reign of the scoring charts with a clinical finish in the 34th minute after holding off three defenders.

An own goal from Rastislav Belicak just before the break when he failed to keep out a powerful Park Tae Won shot rounded up a satisfying first-half performance for the Warriors.

SAFFC are never a team to let a massive 4-1 lead slim with 45 minutes left to play, and it was no different this time with the Warriors playing deeper as they sat on their lead.

Towards the end of the match, Geylang threatened to scorel lead but they were unable to find the necessary breakthrough as the Warriors held on for all three points.

SAFFC head coach Richard Bok felt the Geylang goal was due to his side's absence from competitive football for some time.

"We didn't play for 10-11 days, so we started off a bit sluggish and couldn't get some things going. However, once they (Geylang) got the goal, we picked things up and got the party going. We worked hard for all four goals in the first half."

"In the second half, we wanted to consolidate our lead and keep possession. We didn't let them score and we got all three points."

The Warriors will have another long break before their next match against Albirex Niigata.

"There's a 14-day break before our next match against Albirex. We have to play one or two games before that so that we wouldn't lose momentum. Sometimes it is good to have a few days extra after you play many matches, but if you play only one match and have such a long break, it is not good," said coach Richard.