Valencia 0-1 Home United: Singaporeans on track for knockout stage

AFC CUP 2009

MALE: Home United completed a smash-and-grab mission in the Maldives as Brazilian Peres de Oliveria’s second half strike secured a 1-0 victory at Valencia in the AFC Cup on Tuesday.

Peres struck in the 68th minute to earn the Singaporeans a crucial three points that keeps them on track to progress from Group H.

Valencia, meanwhile, remain bottom of the standings without a win from three games.

The hosts produced the first chance of the game when they won a free-kick in the second minute but Assad Abdul Ghani sent his effort over the crossbar.

Six minutes later Home United's Shahril Ishak saw his effort saved by goalkeeper Hassan Rameez before Peres shot over the bar for the visitors.

Kengne Ludovick was twice denied in the space of a minute as Home United start to take a hold on the game while Shi Jiayi sent an effort over the bar two minutes before the break.

Valencia saw a chance go begging early in the second half when Ibrahim Shiyam latched onto a good through ball from Yameen Ibrahim but failed to finish when under pressure from the defence.

And the hosts should have opened the scoring in the 54th minute when the unmarked Nkemi Marcelin received a pass from Ahmed Nashid inside the area but his goalbound effort hit a defender.

They were made to rue that missed opportunity as the visitors scored in the 68th minute.

Rameez came away from his goal in an effort to get the ball but slipped at a crucial moment and Peres took advantage to fire home.

Shiyam attempted to respond for Valencia as he shot wide of the post six minutes later, but that proved to be their only real chance as Home United defended well to ensure they left the Maldives with all three points.