Asian Football Confederation Cup: Tampines Rovers miss chances in 1-1 draw with Muang Thong United

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Jalan Besar Stadium, Wednesday, March 16, 2011 — Tampines Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw by Thai Premier League champions Muang Thong United in their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup Group G clash. An early goal by Aleksandar Duric (Tampines Rovers #9) was quickly cancelled out by Choeichiu Phichitphong (Muang Thong #19) minutes later.

There were many goal attempts between the two, with Tampines Rovers guilty of wasting several chances.

Tampines Rovers custodian Hassan Sunny had to be alert at the start to thwart a first minute long shot. Tampines created their first chance through Mohammad Imran in the third minute while Muang Thong got theirs in the 6th minute but both teams failed to score.

Muang Thong pressed Tampines throughout, testing Stags keeper Hassan at every opportunity. Forward Dangda Teerasil had a shot ricocheting off the Singapore international’s right post, only for teammate Pornsai Jakkapan to miscue his rebound.

Tampines suffered a scare in the 22th minute when defender Benoit Croissant almost scored an own goal with his botched headed clearance.

However, against the run of play, Hassan Sunny’s searching goal-kick connected with hitman Aleksandar Duric, who buried the ball into the lower right corner of Muang Thong’s goal to put the Stags at 1-0 a minute later.

With their one-goal deficit, Muang Thong quickly worked hard to regain their footing, making two substantial strikes on goal in the next six minutes.

Their efforts finally paid off in the 31st minute when Choeichiu Phichitphong fired a long range shot way out of reach of Hassan Sunny’s despairing dive.

In the 43rd minute, the Tampines goalie made a blunder when his clearance went straight to the feet of Muang Thong’s Dangda Teerasil. He soon made amends with an excellent save off Dangda’s attempt to keep his side in the game as the first half ended.

The second half was a dour affair, with action coming only in the 49th minute with Aleksandar Duric’s skied effort. Duric managed to force Muang Thong to concede another corner, but was unsuccessful in coming up with the Stag’s second goal.

Duric was again at the end of things, this time receiving a clear opportunity after a being set free in the 55th minute. It took a last-ditch tackle by Muang Thong’s Panupong Wongsa to snuff out the threat posed by the Singaporean forward.

Attacking midfielder Ahmad Latiff’s influence in the game only increased towards the end of the game. He was gifted a chance in the 63rd with Shahdan Sulaiman’s corner but saw his powerful effort saved by the Muang Thong’s Thamsatchanan Kawin (#26).

Given little space by the Muang Thong players, Duric struggled for a breakthrough. In the 84th minute, he was again at the receiving end of a well placed cross, but tripped over himself before he could make any impact.

The match ended at a pedestrian pace as both sides settling for a draw. Muang Thong earned a late free kick but saw their header attempt go over the net and the match ended 1-1.

Tampines Rovers coach Steven Tan felt that the result was a fair one.

“In the first half, we were practically chasing shadows,” he said.

The Stags coach was pleased with his side holding on in the second half and also shared his decision to bring on troubled striker Aliff Shafaein.

“With Aliff in the game, (we had someone) running behind the defence, which was what we wanted, (freeing up) Ahmad Latiff to create more chances for the team.”

On Aleksandar Duric’s performance, he noted, “The three chances that Alex had, if it had gone in, it would have been a different game.”

“He should be annoyed with himself, it could have been a hat-trick,” he added.

Muang Thong United coach Henrique Calisto also felt that the result was a fair one although he was not pleased with his team’s performance.

“We need to have more disciplined tactics. Players cannot do what they want. This is a good lesson. We must learn from our mistakes, never do it again,” he said.

Commenting on Tampines Rover hitman Aleksandar Duric: “Aleksandar Duric, he scored a goal (with) one clear chance. Somehow, our team did not follow my instructions.”

“Duric is very dangerous, do not give him space. This is called undisciplined tactics. With me around, (there shall be) no more! No more!,” said Calisto, clearly agitated with his team’s failure to completely shackle the Singapore forward.

With an away victory over Maldives FA Cup winners Victory FC on March 2, Tampines Rovers next face Hanoi T&T at the Hang Day Stadium in Vietnam on April 12, before playing Hanoi T&T again on April 27 at Jalan Besar Stadium for the home match.

Tampines Rovers Lineup
Hassan Sunny (#1, GK), Benoit Croissant (#15, DF), Seiji Kaneko (#18, DF), Ahmad Latiff (#7, MF), Akihiro Nakamura (#8, MF), Shahdan Sulaiman (#10, MF), Imran Sahib (#11, MF), Ismadi Mukhtar (#12, MF), Park Yo Seb (#13, MF), Shukor Zailan (#16, MF), Aleksandar Duric (C) (#9, FW)
Substitutes: Aliff Shafaein Bin Safie’e (#19, MF)

Muang Thong United Lineup
K. Thamsatchanan (#26, GK), P. Saensook (#2, DF), P.Wongsa (#4, DF), N. Phanrit (C) (#6, DF), W. Kayem (#35, DF), D. Thonglao (#7, MF), J. Pornsai (#16, MF), P. Choeichiu (#19, MF), D. Siaka (#21, MF), T. Dangda (#10, FW), K. Christian (#13, FW)
Substitutes: A. Thummanam (#20, DF), A. Sangsanoi (#17, FW), P. Buntao (#23, MF)

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