Warriors show experience edge

Syahrom Sulaiman
info@sleague.com

SAFFC resumed leadership of the Great Eastern-YEO’s S.League table with a 2-1 victory over the Young Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday.

Midfielder John Wilkinson continued his rich vein of scoring form with a goal for the fourth match running, but Obadin Aikhena equalised for the Young Lions with a well-taken goal.

The hosts’ joy was shortlived though when left-back Shaiful Esah scored the winner with a trademark freekick to collect all three points for the Warriors in the end.

Goalscorer Wilkinson was relieved that his side was able to get the much-needed victory against a tough Young Lions side.

“Our performance wasn’t great to be honest but it didn’t matter how we did it, we got all the three points tonight,” said the 29-year-old.

“It’s draining when you have to travel all the way to Shanghai to play a (AFC Champions League) game and then travel back to Singapore to play against the Young Lions.

“It’s very difficult for us to start chasing 19-year-olds throughout the game. It’s actually funnier to see Aleks (Duric) chasing them all around the pitch,” Wilkinson quipped of his 39-year-old team-mate.

With Gombak United held to a 1-1 draw against Home United the night before, the Warriors had the extra impetus to seize top spot from the Bulls.

Coach Richard Bok rested a few regulars like Therdsak Chaiman, Hafiz Osman and Shaiful after the team’s exertions in Shanghai.

Nevertheless, with quality replacements such as former Young Lions player Zulfadli Zainal Abidin and Razaleigh Khalik, the Warriors were business-like in their approach to the game.

The visitors had a dream start when they scored as early as the third minute.

Winger Gabriel Quak Jun Yi handled the ball just outside the penalty box and referee Abdul Malik Bashir had no choice but to award a freekick to the Warriors.

Wilkinson confidently stepped up to be in charge of the set-piece situation, and he produced a sweet curler around the Young Lions’ wall which evaded the diving Jasper Chan, who was deputising for the injured Hyrulnizam Juma’at.

Said Wilkinson: “Usually Therdsak will take the ball and tell everyone that he’s taking it. But since he wasn’t playing (in the first half), I actually took it and I am glad that it resulted in a goal.”

The Warriors had a great chance to double their lead on the half hour mark. Winger Park Tae Won breezed past Faritz Hameed and Shahir Hamzah to put in a delightful cross for Duric to head towards goal.

Luckily for the Young Lions, defender Afiq Yunos was on the goal line to clear away the danger.

The Young Lions then slowly controlled the pace of the game and they created a few good chances to level the scores.

Quak and Shahir mnaged to carve out decent chances but either top goalkeeping from Shahril Jantan or resolute defending by the Warriors’ backline denied the hosts the equalizer.

That was, until the 68th minute.

Aikhena, roaming out of his defensive post, initiated a quick counter-attack and he dazzled his way past a few players with some skilful dribbling.

Spreading play to Fadhil Noh on the right, the young Nigerian was on hand to head Fadhil’s return cross in for a well-worked equaliser.

Four minutes later though, Irwan Shah conceded a freekick when he fouled Park near the edge of the penalty box.

Left-back Shaiful somehow managed to squeeze his shot through the wall and Jasper Chan, once again, was beaten from a set-piece situation.

Young Lions captain Isa Halim cut an unhappy figure after the game. “It showed a lack of experience on our part. From my point of view, both goals that we conceded were soft.

“If they (SAFFC) scored through open play, then credit to them. But we were unlucky to have conceded goals from such set-piece situations.

“Even though SAFFC dominated the game, I felt that we created enough chances to get some kind of result. The only thing we can do is to learn and look forward to the next game,” Isa added.