Tanjong Pagar United 1-1 DPMM FC
12 July 2013
Jalan Besar Stadium
Scorers Kamel Ramdani 39′; Rodrigo Tosi ’90

by Ong Jiing Yih

Tanjong Pagar United conceded an unlucky last-gasp equaliser to earn a share of the spoils with DPMM FC.

Quite exactly how much time was added for stoppages might be questionable; the 1-1 draw was nonetheless a massive disappointment.

The Queenstown-based outfit thus remain on third place with the result, four points behind their next opponents Albirex Niigata.

Going into the match, both teams were aware of the need to hold firm following previous defence inadequacies, and the consequence gave rise to a tentative, cagey opening quarter.

However, Kamel Ramdani still managed to breach the visitors’ net with a peach of a freekick before the break.

Rodrigo Tosi then profited from the presence of his goalkeeper Wardun Yussof, who just about distracted the home defence to gleam the ball past Aurelien Herisson very late on.

For a start, Sazali Salleh and Zahid Ahmad both made their returns after suspension for the Jaguars, taking their places ahead of Hanafi Salleh and Asraf Rashid.

A big surprise for the visitors meanwhile was the exclusion of Shahrazen Said in favour of Hendra Azam for the starting eleven.

Otherwise, Azwan Saleh and Helmi Zambin came into a side who were on the wrong end of the 5-2 thumping last Friday.

Worst was to follow when Tales Dos Santos was forced off after only 13 minutes due to injury, with veteran Pg Sallehuddin Damit coming on to replace him.

Both sides were certainly up for it as first Tanjong Pagar forced their first corner, before DPMM’s Tosi saw a shot blocked by Aymard.

Joao Moreira blazed over in the fourth minute after a run and shot presented a decent chance for him to aim at the target.

Hafiz Nor almost delivered but dithering meant his opponents could clear at the first time of asking, breaking down a promisng attack.

A foul down the right channel minutes later saw Ramdani stretch Wardun with a tantalising freekick which the latter had to fling clear.

In a match shorn of clear opportunities, it was Hafiz’s duel with Helmi that provided thrust in terms of match action.

Undeterred, Hendra eked out a speculative attempt from deep without actually troubling Herisson.

Still, the right proved to be the more profitable side of attack and Hafiz would have nudged ahead to latch onto Zerka’s intended through ball, had Helmi not threw himself low to prevent the shot.

While the hosts’ tactician Patrick Vallee fretted on how his charges could make better and more intelligent use of the ball, a spanner was about to be thrown into the works on the bench across.

Vjeran Simunic, enjoying much less of the Jalan Besar surroundings for the second week running, got himself sent to the stands after allegedly venting his frustrations on a water bottle in the 37 minute.

Two minutes later, Ramdani bent the ball past the wall and past the flailing dive of Wardun to put the Jaguars in control.

Tellingly, the hosts posed more of a significant threat than their counterparts who had Subhi Abdilah miscuing his goal attempt badly.

But belittle the Wasps at your own peril – Arturas Rimkevicius got onto a long, deep freekick through the middle and was about to sneak a goal when Jaguars ‘keeper Herisson came to a timely rescue, punching clear at full stretch.

On 53 minutes Subhi even managed to find himself some space, receiving Tosi’s layoff but sliced his effort two inches wide of the post.

Then into the 60th minute Ramdani latched onto Wilkinson’s cutback, turned and volleyed towards goal.

A goal might have served justice but the opposite happened due to Wardun’s intervention.

As the game descended into a lull and crying out for some invention and vision, there was an urgent need for the Jaguars to clinch the game with a second goal.

Tosi gave much food for thought when he got just above Herisson and Lounis to nod just above the crossbar.

With time running out, DPMM had no choice but to go for the jugular as Shahrazen entered the fray with 18 minutes remaining.

It was the hosts however who seemed likelier of the two to find the nerve-settling goal, with three decent chances in the 75th and 76th minutes.

First, Sallehuddin almost hung up on his goalkeeper Wardun with a desperate clearance just as Zerka was bearing down on goal, before Zerka himself and Lounis both had space and time to extend the lead.

In fact, Lounis’ header veered upwards instead of downwards, leaving the skipper to curse the flight of the matchball.

Shahrazen then had a gilt-edged chance to restore parity, only to fluff his lines.

As much as there were shots raining down on goal, fouls were just as conscious in their occurrence – how and why Ramdani failed to get a decision his way came as somewhat of a bemusement.

Fact was, the second goal for Tanjong Pagar was nowhere in sight.

Tosi was next to snatch at his attempt, blazing over with the goal at his mercy.

Unfortunately, the Brazilian was on hand to steal in amidst a goalmouth melee and netted the equaliser, thus denying the Jaguars their second straight win.

Head coach Vallee, not one to dwell upon circumstances, gave his assessment on the two points dropped.

“We were unlucky but we can’t complain, just disappointed because we had chances to get the second goal. I didn’t know what happened when five minutes became six. Overall, I’m happy with the team’s display and fighting spirit, and I think we deserved to win tonight.

“We are still in the top (three) positions and as July is a tough month, we would see what happens next Tuesday. It had been a little frustrating, but that’s football.”