Story by REDintern Darren Ho. Photos by Les Tan/Red Sports.
Shahrul (#12) slides in the equaliser for Siglap in the first half. He went on to score the winning goal in the second. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Temasek Polytechnic, Monday, March 28, 2016 – Despite conceding two penalties to Coral Secondary (CS) and going down to 10 men, the resilence of Siglap Secondary (SS) lifted them to a 3-2 victory in the final of the East Zone B Division Football Championship.
Both teams came into this tie knowing that both schools will merge in 2017. But that did not change the complexion of the final, as the rival sides produced 80 minutes of entertaining football in front of spirited supporters who backed the stands.
Coral took the lead twice, both times from the penalty spot. Muhammad Ariffin (CS #9) scored an early 6th minute penalty before that was cancelled out by Siglap’s talismanic playmaker, Muhammad Sharul (SS #12), who pulled one back after 10 minutes after a through-ball inside the penalty box.
Sharul (#12) nearly doubled his goal-tally within minutes, when he dispossessed Khidir Hafidz (CS #11) near the half way line, before charging down the right flank with great velocity and pulling off a shot inside the penalty box, only to see the ball glance off the crossbar.
Siglap were soon reduced to 10 men. A second bookable offence by Abdul Alim (#19) saw the referee flash him a second yellow card, followed by a red, just before half-time.
Siglap head coach, Fabio da Silva, was forced to make a substitution, which he described as “a tactical change to boost the strike force”, as he brought on striker Muhammad Qushairi (#16) in place of Mohamed Alfian (#11), play on the counter attack.
Ady Zuhairi (#14) then stepped up for Coral’s second penalty right after the half-time break, when he squeezed the ball into the bottom right corner despite Siglap goalkeeper Yeo Wen Bin (#1) getting a touch to it.
Despite this setback, coach Fabio must have given a strong motivational speech in the dressing room at half-time as Siglap still threatened in the second half.
From Sharul (#12) selfless work as the lone striker, to the slick pass-and-move skills of those behind him, Siglap’s ruthlessly efficient counter-attacks always carried a promise of goal.
Siglap eventually levelled at 2-2 before the hour mark. Izzudin bin Abdullah (#18) swung a stunning free-kick from just inside his own half, near the centre circle, into the top right corner of the goal, leaving Coral goalkeeper Benj Dunasco (#1) rooted to the spot.
With 20 minutes to play, both sides surged forward each time they picked up the loose ball, in hope of scoring the winner.
Coral came close to sealing the victory after Muhammad Danial’s (#20) artful pass picked up Syed Abu Bakar (#8), only for his shot to be denied by the woodwork.
This wasted opportunity proved to be costly. Coral conceded a free-kick from a dangerous position in the 76th minute, and Muhamad Raihan’s (#7) cross found Sharul (#12) who turned the ball home to snatch the victory.
Match-winner Sharul (#12) said, “I’m happy that I’ve done my best for the team as it’s the last year Siglap will face Coral. I’m going to miss the fun experience and stadium atmosphere with my teammates.”
Siglap coach Fabio said, ”I give all my credit to my players who’ve worked very hard on the field against a side that has so many quality players.”
He highlighted goalkeeper Yeo Wen Bin (#1), who “had made many important saves”, and Sharul (#12) who had been “influential in getting the team back into the game”.
He added that he was glad that the team had heeded his advice, “to work with one heart, one spirit and fight for each other (as) they can always come back and win the game. It’s all about the team attitude”.
Score by Half
Coral vs Siglap
1st-Half: 1-1
2nd – Half: 1-2
Full-time: 2-3
Scorers
Coral
Muhammad Ariffin (#9) – 1 goal (6th min)
Ady Zuhairi (#14) – 1 goal (42nd min)
Siglap
Muhammad Sharul (#12) – 2 goals (10th min and 76th min)
Izzudin B Abdullah (#18) – 1 goal (58th min)
Coral Roster
Dunasco Benj Andrei Carino (#1), Muhammad Fikri B Raihan (#2), Lai Jia Jie (#3), Al-Asree B Khairil Anuar (#4), Muhammad Arif B Abdul Halim (#5), Muhammed Haziq Mikhail B Azhar (#6), Mugammad Haziq Bin Kamarudin (#7), Syed Abu Bakar Adeni B Syed T (#8), Muhammad Ariffin B Noor M (#9), Aqil Izdihar B Iskandar (#20), Khidir Hafidz B Mohammad Ali (#11), Aniq Harith B Anuar (#12), Antonio (#13), Ady Zuhairi B Khairul Famy (#14), Muhammad Haziq B Abdul Jalal (#15), Kaung Htet Lu (#16), Muhammad Fikri B Junaidi (#17), Muhammad Danial Faid B Amirrudin (#18), Muhammad Salihin B Shamsul K (#19), Muhammad Danial B Azman (#20)
Siglap Roster
Yeo Wen Bin (#1), Muhammad Shahrizan B Razak (#2), Muhammad Nuh Khifli B Kasman (#3), Ahmad Ajmal B Ahmad Nilautama (#4), Muhammad Zakiey B Surahmat (#5), Muhammad Iswandy B Ismail (#6), Muhamad Raihan B Fadilah (#7), Mohammad Danish B Bakhtiar (#8), Mohamad Iqbal B Sali (#9), Mohammad Hariz Sayyidi B H (#10), Mohamed Alfian B Mohamed Ali (#11), Muhammad Sharul Shah B Mohd A (#12), Muhammad Faris B Mohd Kamsin (#13), Wira Danial B Mohammad Azmi (#14), Ahmad Khairy B Khairul Anuar (#15), Muhammad Qushairi B Jeffri (#16), Khairul Mustaqim B Mohamad Khalid (#17), Izzudin B Abdullah (#18), Abdul Alim Bin Abdul Aziz (#19), Abel Poh Wei Jie(#20)
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