Tanjong Pagar United 4-1 Boeung Ket Rubber Field FC

20130531

Jalan Besar Stadium

Scorers Ismael Benahmed 65′, Asraf Rashid 73′, o.g., Kamel Ramdani pen ’80, Monsef Zerka ’88

by Ong Jiing Yih

Match Highlights

Tanjong Pagar United marched into the quarter finals with a resounding 4-1 victory over Cambodian visitors Boeung Ket Rubber Field FC.

Boeung Ket came with a formidable domestic record but perhaps the challenge of the artificial Jalan Besar turf proved a touch too far for them.

In a game of two halves, the Jaguars got out of their slumber as their low start was squashed emphtically.

Ismael Benahmed, Asraf Rashid, Kamel Ramdani from the penalty spot and just as delightfully, Monsef Zerka helped secured the Club’s passage.

Amidst much fanfare pre-match, the Club opted for a specially-designed cup kit forthe occasion.

Decked out in a predominantly black strip with red and white trim, the Jaguars eventually made it to the pitch following a rain-induced hour-long delay.

Young winger Chan Vathanaka was the first to produce the first warning signs with his touches and skils on the ball.

Degule Momoh, one of the Cambodians’ imports, had an early shot after a tentative opening two minutes.

George Bisan was the next to attempt at the target as they looked keen to shoot at every given opportunity.

On 11 minutes had passed before Momoh raced through a packed, retreating midfield and produced a stern daisy cutter in which Aurelien Herisson palmed away at full stretch.

It was sixteen minutes before the nominated hosts produced their first effort, a header wide of the near post from Benahmed.

However, Gerard Onwuka got on the end of a counter and before Zahid Ahmad could lift a boot, Boeung Ket’s no.9 lifted his and crashed a languid drive onto the post.

A letoff for the Jaguars indeed.

Undeterred, Kamel Ramdani then let rip from way out which had Bunchay Peng sprawling in goal.

The visitors were relatively comfortable in possession but they surely mixed art with graft, with a few hard tackles thrown in.

Within the space of 120 seconds, a freekick brought upon themslves saw Ramdani’s intended delivery headed clear.

A subsequent short corner routine then saw another blocked attempt, this time from Ahmad Latiff.

However, Jean Befolo Mbarga drew a save low down by Herisson.

Benahmed then wasted a decent opportunity on the half-hour mark by pulling his shot well wide.

First booking of the night then went to Thul Sothearith the Boeung Ket skipper after he brought down Hafiz Nor near the edge of the area. From the resultant set piece, Ramdani skimmed the bar.

Approaching half time, there was plenty of thinking to do for the hosts as they sought to improve.

Vathanaka had already skied a freekick way beyond before his team mate Sovan Sok nearly handed the ball onto a plate for Ramdani, who fired straight at Peng.

Whatever Patrick Vallee said at half time did help as his side became more composed in possession, as his cohort used the ballto better effect.

However, one could sense the danger posed by the visitors as they showed their eagerness to win.

It needed a timely intervention by Anthony Aymard to prevent Keo Sokngon’s cross from coming into any fruition.

An audacious lob by Hafiz then ballooned high up into the air when it seemed easier to keep it low.

Moments later, Bisan wasted a gilt-edge chance at the near post and the chance of an opener vanished at an instant.

Positively, goals change games and one was what it required for Tanjong Pagar to calm their nerves in the 65 minute.

Benahmed timed his run impeccably to get onto a deep cross by Zerka.

Just when nearest marker Pancharong Touch slipped he wasted little time and promptly sidefooted into the bottom left corner.

One then became two when a cutback by Hafiz and a brilliant stepover from Zerka afforded Asraf a thumping shot, who netted his second strike in as many games in the process.

There was still time for the away side to test Herisson with an audacious lob in which the Frenchman caught right on the line.

He was powerless however to prevent an unwanted ricochet trickling past him into goal aftera corner.

Having withstood yet another barrage of pressure by their opponents, Hafiz justified his recent call-up to the national team with some dazzling wing play that would give his marker sleepless nights.

Stood in between intended receipient Zerka and himself was Touch and he thought he had made a routine clearance by slicing the ball back to his goalkeeper Peng.

To his dismay, the match referee blew for an alleged handball, giving Ramdani the chance to seal the match with ten minutes remaining.

Up stepped the Frech playmaker who made no mistake, sending Peng the wrong way to make it 3-1.

Two minutes from time, a wonderful team move enabled the Jaguars to increase their goal tally.

Hafiz and Latiff exchnged possession before the latter intelligently released the lurking Benahmed who in turn skinned the entire Boeung Ket backline.

A square ball low and hard across the six-yard box, and who else but Zerka to tap in for his ninth strike across all competitions this year.

There was still sufficient time for Azhar Ahmad and K. Vikraman to make appearances off the bench as the game reached its conclusion.

Post match, Vallee stressed the importance of progess into the quarter finals, as his beaming smile filtered across the post-match press conference.

“I need not ask too much of my players (the result is) what I wanted to get. It is tough playing in the Cup, and it was vital not to rush but to take care. Most importantly, I asked my players to get to the next round, never mind if (there was to be) extra time or penalty.

“Boeung Ket were a very good team, technical and good on the ball; I wouldn’t be worried even if they’d scored first.

“My team took time and got better in the end. Defensively we tried to perform and not give away too many chances. Above all I’m happy my players worked had for the team and deserved the win. (Together with) the scorers, everything (have been) good today.”