Geylang United 0 SAFFC 3

Warriors sink Geylang to pull clear

Syahrom Sulaiman
info@sleague.com

SAFFC avenged their RHB Singapore Cup preliminary round exit at the hands of Geylang United when they defeated the Eagles 3-0 at Bedok Stadium in Sunday’s Great Eastern–YEO’S S.League game.

An early goal by Mustaqim Manzur and a brace from Aleksandar Duric was enough to see the Warriors steer three points clear of their second-placed rivals Gombak United in the standings.

For the Eagles though, they suffered their third league defeat on the trot.

Victory over the Warriors in the RHB Singapore Cup game on Labour Day seemed like a distant memory, but Eagles head coach Mike Wong wants to quickly correct the recent mistakes made by his side so that they can go on to their winning ways soon.

He said, “Their first goal came very early in the game and two more goals came from corners. To me, I felt that we could have done much better as a team to defend those situations.

“The players must understand that once the referee blows his whistle everyone must be alert to anticipate any type of situation. The same thing happened when we conceded the goals in our previous game against Albirex (Niigata FC(Singapore)).

“Once we conceded early against strong teams such as SAFFC it was going to be difficult after that. We had to change the game plan and nearing the end of the first half we managed to control the game but the second and third goals changed the complexion of the game,” Wong pointed out.

SAFFC were the quickest off the blocks to settle down.

Their incessant pressure paid off as early as the third minute when Mustaqim, receiving a long throw-in from right-back Hafiz Osman, took advantage of haphazard defending by the Eagles.

Thanks to Duric and Park Tae Won’s constant hassling, Mustaqim was not picked up by any defender and he coolly placed the ball past custodian Yazid Yasin within the six-yard area.

Missing the services of the suspended Baihakki Khaizan, the Eagles did not look steady at all at the back as the Warriors were constantly at their heels.

Winger Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin had a lot of joy on the right flank as he managed to go past Faizal Senin on numerous occasions to provide dangerous crosses to the middle.

However, the AFC Champions League exertions took its toll on the Warriors and the Eagles slowly took advantage of their opponents’ fatigue factor.

Rastislav Belicak and Noor Ali were at the heart of all the best moves the Eagles produced in the game.

One such move presented British striker Lloyd Butler the best chance to equalize for the Eagles.

In the 31st minute, Belicak passed the ball Noor Ali and the captain produced a peach of a cross to Butler in the middle.

Having escaped the attentions of defenders Kenji Arai and Razaleigh Khalik, Butler contrived to steer his header just over the crossbar from inside the six-yard area.

Such profligate finishing would only be punished by a top side like the Warriors and true enough, they doubled their advantage ten minutes after the interval.

The impressive Zulfadli Zainal Abidin, taking over left-back duties from Shaiful Esah who was rested for the game, produced a swerving corner kick which Yazid could not punch clear properly.

Duric imposed his 1.92-metre frame on the custodian and he was rewarded with the simplest of tap-ins after a lackadaisical effort by the Eagles’ defence to clear their lines properly.

The striker then put the icing on the cake twelve minutes from time when he overpowered defender Haruki Seto to reach substitute Syad Karim’s cross first and head the ball into goal.

Warriors head coach Richard Bok knew how important it was for his team to win the game against the Eagles.

He said, “It was definitely a hard-fought victory, especially when the match came after we travelled to Korea for the ACL (AFC Champions League) game.

“We settled down quickly but after a while Geylang United managed to have more possession of the ball. But we got the goals that we wanted and achieved our main objective – which was to come here and do a professional job so that we can get ahead from the rest of the teams in the league,” Bok commented.