SAFFC edge past Young Lions 2-1 in S.League football

By Gerald Koh/Red Sports. Photos by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports & Vanessa Lim/Red Sports.

Jalan Besar Stadium, Saturday, March 14, 2009 - Singapore Armed Forces FC edged past Young Lions 2-1 to reclaim top spot from Gombak United at the top of the S.League Football Championship table.

Following their mid-week 1-4 defeat to Shanghai Shenghua in the AFC Champions League, the SAFFC players got back to winning ways.

Young Lions boss Terry Pathmanathan certainly had other plans for the match, believing that while SAFFC have "great quality in their individual play, are vastly experienced and have everything a champion team is required to possess”, they are definitely not unbeatable and that "it's the 90 minutes that counts".

However, his plans were certainly foiled as SAFFC midfielder John Wilkinson (#10) scored from a free-kick just two minutes into the game from the edge of the penalty box after a Young Lion handled the ball. Young Lions goalkeeper Jasper Chan (#18) had no chance.

Perhaps the result of their mid-week exertions in Shanghai, the S-League champions’ typically fluid play was labored, and the Young Lions easily broke up SAFFC attempts at goal. However, as the game went on, the champions showed their experience and pedigree against a much younger and inexperienced Young Lions team.

Young Lions defenders Obadin Aikhena (#20) and Goh Swee Swee (#19) were both cautioned for tackles on Marashiro Fukasawa (#6) and Mustaqim Manzur (#19) respectively as SAFFC began to get a grip on the game and were starting to find holes in the Young Lions' backline.

Irwan Shah (#10) of Young Lions as well as Daniel Bennett (#16) and Razaleigh Khalik (#18) of SAFFC were also cautioned in the process of the match.

In the 31st minute, Young Lions goalkeeper Jasper Chan completely misjudged a cross from Park Tae Won (#18) to give Aleksandar Duric a free header which was luckily cleared off the line by defender Obadin.

The Young Lions' only real chance in the first half came from Gabriel Quak (#7) who showed fine skill when he trapped a ball in the penalty box and dribbled past Warriors custodian Shahril Jantan (#14). However, he hesitated in pulling the trigger which gave Jantan time to recover and smother the ball at Quak's feet.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was played in the same cagey manner, even as SAFFC playmaker Thersdak Chaiman (#8) was brought on to replace Masahiro Fukasawa after half-time. It seemed like the champions were reserving their energy for their next AFC Champions League match against Suwon Bluewings on Wednesday.

But even Thersdak could not bring the Warriors to life. Counterattacking after an SAFFC attempt in the 67th minute, the Young Lions surged forward in force and were rewarded with an equalising goal from defender Obadin Aikhena who, unmarked in the box, headed the ball past Shahril Jantan.

Surprised by the goal and the 1-1 scoreline, the champions got back into gear and made the Young Lions' celebrations shortlived. Substitute Shaiful Esah (#2) put the Warriors back in the lead five minutes later from a free-kick in the same area as their first goal.

Credit must be given to Terry Pathmanathan's Young Lions as they held their own against a quality side, albeit one that was so obviously tired that it was painful just to watch them move on the field.

Warriors captain Aleksandar Duric (#9), for one seemed the most tired, as he missed no less than three good opportunities to further SAFFC's lead in the last 10 minutes of the game, with the last one being the most glaring as his shot hit the post even with Jasper Chan already beaten.

The official result was a 2-1 win for SAFFC but the match could easily have gone the other way if the Warriors hadn't scored the early goal.

This win places SAFFC top of the S.League with 11 points and in good stead for their next league match against Woodlands Wellington.

Young Lions play second-place Gombak United next.

More pictures in the gallery.