Woodlands Wellington 2-3 Tanjong Pagar United
4 Aug 2013
Woodlands Stadium
Scorers Monsef Zerka '3, 37', Kamel Ramdani 30';
Chang Jo Yoon 60', 90' +3

By Ong Jiing Yih

A disciplined and assured display afforded Tanjong Pagar United a 3-2 victory over Woodlands Wellington.

By tearing the hosts' defence to shreds, they illustrated they could mix brawn with brains shown when they raced into a 3-0 during a barnstorming first half display.

The gruelling test passed with flying colours meant that Tanjong Pagar United pulled clear of the chasing pack, thereby keeping in touch with second place at the top end of the S.League standings.

A matchup of the 1998 Singapore Cup winners against the 2005 & 2008 Runners-up, it was back to the staple diet for league football for the Jaguars following their entry into the semi-finals.

Never an easy task nor opponent, the hosts' own player-of-the-month Moon Soon Ho threatened sporadically from a right-sided position initially.

On the credit side, Monsef Zerka had profited from great assists on either side of Kamel Ramdani's glancing header to put the Queenstown outfit firmly in control.

However, warning signs were evident when Chang Jo Yoon came close with a stinging effort into the side netting on 55 minutes.

Little surprise when he struck twice to keep his side, though ultimately in vain, in the hunt even till the end of stoppages.

With a fully fit squad bar absentees Taufiq Rahmat and Farouk Farkhan, Woodlands' lineup had the routine look of their local and Korean contingent, plus Atsushi Shimono and Theerawekin Seehawong.

Over at the visitors, a side pretty much in sync and on the same wavelength for much of the season had Ahmad Latiff, John Wilkinson and Zahid Ahmad all facing their former clubs.

As with the whole team, K Vikraman put in a good shift on the right flank, breaking play and setting up teammates with confidence.

With Sazali Salleh awaiting surgery and Asraf Rashid suspended, Hanafi Salleh came into the side to aid the cause, screening and protecting the back four.

Without wishing to take a risky punt on the fitness of Walid Lounis, Prime League starlets Nazri Jaffar and Shafiq Noh were also included in the matchday squad.

Wilkinson had already helped Ismael Benahmed fizzle in a cross to trouble the hosts' defence, before an evasive run past the nearest opponent gave Zerka the opportunity to nod home inside 125 seconds.

Moon Soon Ho nearly latched onto Chang's attempted pass but could not race clear in time moments after that first goal.

Upon evaporation of that near miss, a quick freekick then saw Zerka's intended effort deflected away by Shariff Samat.

There was to be some concern however when Zerka went down in the box under a challenge from Woodlands' Shahril Alias after 15 minutes.

Thankfully, the Clubs' top scorer emerged unscathed.

Ramdani slid in but missed a good chance when Benahmed played his low cross into the danger zone on 23 minutes.

Approaching the half hour mark, Zerka gave both Armanizam Dolah and Rosman Sulaiman the slip before Shariff came to the rescue.

The nightmare of that near own-goal eventually came true for the Rams after Ramdani connected perfectly with Hafiz Nor's corner to double the Jaguars' advantage.

2-0 however is not a score where one can rest his laurels on, meaning goalkeeper Aurelien Herisson had to come off his line to hack clear during a potentially dangerous instance.

However, magic and trickery from the visitors had the hosts' midfield overrun, leading to Oswind Suriya's introduction for Armanizam.

As was the air of inevitability of Zerka doubling his tally, two became three when the Moroccan guided home his side's third of the evening.

After yet another set piece presented a decent opportunity, Zerka forced a point-blank save by Yazid Yasin approaching the break.

Three nearly became four after the restart but Zahid, having robbed Ang Zhiwei of possession, just stopped short of finding any one of three teammates in the congested six-yard box.

Rosman next came close with a long-range strike in the 53rd minute that landed on top of the net.

Somewhat contrary to the run of play Woodlands pulled one back on the hour mark when Chang flicked home a corner.

Moon almost caused further panic following their goal but fortunately his effort only managed to trouble the advertising hoardings behind the goal.

Zerka then witnessed a shot cleared off the line, preceding a speculative effort from substitute Azhar Ahmad.

As Woodlands mounted yet another attack the largely untested Herisson had to be at his positional best to deny Chang in the 79th minute.

Benahmed had the chance to round off the score in spectacular fashion four minutes from time, only to find Yazid in uncompromising mood who punched away his fierce attempt.

Herisson was once again called into action late on, saving a header by Chang right on the line.

However, he and Latiff could only watch as a stunner by the Korean forward set up a grandstand finish in added time.

Time ran out and despite exerting sustained pressure on goal, the Rams had to settle for second best in an absorbing contest.

An elated Patrick Vallee clenched his fists and roared into the night sky in delight, and nobody could begrudge him.

He was his usual methodical self as he delivered his assessment on the hard-fought win.

“I'm very happy and proud of my team tonight. It hadn't been easy in a difficult week when it wasn't only Sazali; several others were also injured. I'm pleased with what the players have done, like Latiff who played on for me despite injury, as they didn't want to give up the top places.

“Tonight we see the meaning of what Tanjong Pagar is all about and it's been beautiful for the team. We scored three magnificent goals and the players were concentrated (on the match); we must win again and though top three is better top six is our minimum aim. Now it is time to rest after eight tough months, and hopefully everyone comes back fresh.”