Young Lions upset unlucky Protectors

Basil Yeo
info@sleague.com

A 71st-minute header from Obadin Aikhena was the decisive factor in securing the Young Lions’ first victory of the season – a shocking 1-0 upset of Home United on Wednesday evening.

The Young Lions maintained a familiar lineup but the starting gloves were handed to Izwan Mahbud for the first time this year, while Lionel Lewis sat on the bench for the second consecutive game as Ridzuan Fatah Hassan stood between the posts for Home.

The Protectors needed a win to get their confidence running again and started brightly with Shahril Ishak and Kengne Ludovick both managing to take early shots, but they were off target.

Ridzuan was tested for the first time in the game when he dived to the right to deny Fadhil Noh’s long-range screamer on 15 minutes. On the other end of the pitch, Juma’at Jantan had a chance from a similar range when Shi Jiayi’s free kick was flicked out by Norikazu Murakami’s heel into his path, but the shot lacked accuracy.

The Protectors were assaulting the Young Lions’ goal for an extended period in the first half, starting with Ludovick’s dribble in from the right, after he had lost his marker. The young defence handled the pressure well enough for the ball to be cleared, and Shahdan Sulaiman’s attempts to send it back in with a piledriver failed.

The impressive but unlucky Shahril could have opened the scoring moments before the break but saw his shot come off the post after being denied by Izwan’s tip of the fingers. Earlier, the Singapore international had been in a clear position, but slipped as he was about to receive Ludovick’s chipped cross.

On the last action of the first half, Shi produced a brilliant curling free kick from the side, but the ball skimmed the post by millimetres.

The signs of danger for the Protectors began in the second half when Ridzuan spilled a shot and allowed Gabriel Quak Jun Yi to break out on the left and nick a cross in, but conscientious defending from Valery Hiek denied Fadhil from receiving it.

A similar attack from the hosts glanced across the Protectors’ goal dangerously, but Fadhil was too far out wide to cause any problems, and his shot slammed into the side netting.

Peres de Oliveira was a fresh change in the sluggish Home attack and laid the ball off for Ludovick, who slammed the ball way off target. Minutes later, the Brazillian hit the left post with a free kick, which Shahril stuffed horribly on the rebound.

The visitors’ numerous failures to capitalize on their attacks were eventually punished by the hosts 20 minutes from time. Skipper Isa Halim whipped in a free kick and it appeared like a training ground routine as Aikhena leapt up without any competition to direct the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

Substitute Itimi Dickson could have made his mark on the game when he tried to volley in a shot from outside the box, but hit the woodwork instead.

Quak showed off his dazzling dribbling skills when he skimmed past the Home defence but planted a shot into the side netting. The young winger was gifted a wonderful opportunity to double the lead on the break in stoppage time, but failed in his touch to control the ball, and was cleanly taken out by Hiek.

There were some last minute jitters for the Young Lions as they gave away several free kicks on the edge of the box, but they held up well under pressure till the referee blew the final whistle after Aikhena smacked clear a loose ball inches away from the goalmouth.

“It was a timely win for these young players,” said Terry Pathmanathan, head coach of the Young Lions.

“It is not pleasant to wake up in the morning and realize that you are at the bottom of the table.

“Beating Home should be an incentive and motivation for these players. They are a team with vast experience and quality, and could have murdered us if it was their day.

“The boys deserve the win for all their effort, determination and hard work, but we still lack the technical ability and finishing. We did well, we won, but tomorrow we should think about how hard the next game will be.”

“We played some fantastic football today,” said Home United coach PN Sivaji. “We opened them up many times at the back and created many chances searching for that elusive goal, and we were almost there at the end.

“This is a very testing period for us and how we come out of this will be critical for our hopes for this season.

“Football is about scoring goals, and we didn’t score. That will be something we have to work on.”