With both sides entering Friday's game with a chance of going top of the table, many expected the game between the league's two best defences to get off to a cautious start.
However, Balestier put paid to that notion just two minutes in when they took the lead through Hamqaamal. There appeared to be no real danger when a long diagonal ball found its way to the Tigers left winger just outside the box with Mahalli Jasuli in close attention, but without taking a touch the 25-year-old unleashed an effort from an tight angle that found its way into the far corner.
The blistering start came as a huge boost for Balestier considering their attack hasn't been one of their strongest areas this season, scoring just ten goals prior to Friday's game. On the other hand, Harimau have had no such problems, boasting the league's 6th-best attack with 14 goals in their opening eight games.
And they had a decent chance to equalise in the 15th minute when a poor header from Syed Thaha presented Ahmad Hazwan with the ball inside the box. However, Goran Subara managed to get a vital toe in just before the Harimau striker could get a shot away.
Four minutes later, Hazwan showed why he has been labelled in many quarters as the next Safee Sali when he created an excellent opportunity for himself. With his back to goal, the 20-year-old took Paul Cunningham out of the equation with a clever turn and advanced on goal, only to be denied by Joey Sim who had rushed out superbly to block his effort.
Like it has been all season long, the Balestier backline was coping relatively well with the opposition attack but Tigers coach Darren Stewart suffered a real blow in the 27th minute when he had to replace Subara, who came off with what was later revealed to be a fractured forearm.
Harimau dangerman Wan Zack Haikal was starting to get more involved in the game and fired in a swerving freekick that Sim punched away unconvincingly, before left-back Nazirul Naim went on a bursting run down the middle before letting fly with a 35-yard effort that sailed just wide.
With a one-goal lead to hold on to, Balestier looked happy to soak up the pressure and hit the visitors on the counter. And six minutes before the break, they nearly doubled their advantage when Haamqamal sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal, although no one was on hand to tap home.
Nonetheless, there was to be no denying the Tigers in the 59th minute when a slip from Shahrul, who started in place of the suspended Fadhli Shas, provided Ruhaizad with a clear path to goal. The 30-year-old winger, who had been having a quiet game up till that point, latched onto the ball before clinically firing past Izham Tarmizi in the Harimau goal to put his side firmly in control of the game.
Now desperately needing to score if they were to rescue anything out of the game, Harimau started to push forward with more intent, with coach Ong Kim Swee making a number of attacking substitutions in the form of Nazmi Faiz, Syahrul Azwari and D. Saarvindran.
However, despite peppering the Balestier box with crosses, the Young Tigers were unable to find a way past the inspirational Cunningham and Jaslee Hatta, who had deputised admirably in Subara's absence.
And while it was another win and clean sheet in the bag as the final whistle blew, there was no doubt the joyous scenes throughout the Balestier camp stemmed largely from the fact that they had leapfrogged DPMM FC and Home United into top spot.
| Rnk | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | +/- | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Balestier Khalsa | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 21 |
| 2 |  | DPMM Brunei | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 20 |
| 3 | | Home United | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 18 |
| 4 |  | Tampines Rovers | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 17 |
| 5 | | Harimau Muda A | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 17 |
| 6 | | Albirex Niigata (S) | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 16 |
| 7 | | Hougang | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 11 |
| 8 | | Gombak United | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 9 |
| 9 | | Singapore Armed Forces | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 8 |
| 10 | | Woodlands Wellington | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 8 |
| 11 | | Geylang United | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 23 | -14 | 6 |
| 12 | | Young Lions | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 4 |
| 13 | | Tanjong Pagar | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 24 | -17 | 4 |
LINK
ORIGINAL SOURCE
Content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
No comments:
Post a Comment