By Song Sung Hai

The encounter will have felt like two points lost for the Jaguars, and perhaps rightly so, but it is easy to forget that the Warriors side that faced the Jaguars were not the same side from last season. A first half goal by Sebastien Etiemble had the Jaguars leading for almost the whole game until Miroslav Pejic equalised two minutes from time to end the game at one apiece.

Hung heads from the Jaguars camp greeted the final whistle as the players rued what could have been whereas the exact opposite reaction could be seen in the opposite camp. Warriors FC knew they were not the better side on the night and to escape from the clutches of defeat at the death was something special to celebrate.

Alex Weaver has moulded the team into a feisty outfit who sat in third place before facing the Jaguars and their newfound persistence ensured they remain unbeaten in five games now. They have Pejic to thank for especially, whose boots probably come with a “One Goal A Game” guarantee but for how many games, we do not know. The 28 year-old Bosnian native have seven goals in seven games and that figure could well increase for as long as that guarantee holds out.

Everyone following the Jaguars’ progress would have made a mental note of our attacking prowess currently haunted by the lack of a bite that would have finished off the previous teams who have won by one-goal margins but were largely outplayed.

It was a not a reputation to be proud about and the sense of urgency and desire to drop that bad habit could be felt from the first whistle of the game. The Jaguars had such a commanding presence on the pitch that it was no surprise when Sebastien Etiemble headed in another Masrezwan Masturi special from a free-kick in the 14th minute to give our team the lead.

Sazali Salleh and Tengku Mushadad once again harassed the midfield with such tenacity that the it seemed the only way the Warriors midfield could avoid the two was for Alex Weaver to apply for a Police Protection Order against them and hope that worked. Firdaus Idros also ran himself into the ground and only exhaustion would prompt his Head Coach to take him out which was what Patrick did in the 90th minute. Throughout, Firdaus had delivered support with a speed that DHL would be proud to call their own.

Several more chances in the first half went begging with the lionhearted Asraf Rashid having two good opportunities skewed, one of which was sparked by a magnanimous act of charity by Hassan Sunny who passed the ball to Asraf while he was out of position, leaving a yawning goal at the mercy of the diminutive firehouse. Asraf however was unable to return the gesture as he slipped on the slippery surface and sent his unguided shot into the grateful thighs of Daniel Bennett.

In response, the Warriors were content to crumble under the slightest of touches whenever any of them sensed the Jaguars’ box nearby, what with the likes of Anthony Aymard and Hafiz Osman guarding the back with more fervour and fanaticism than North Korean soldiers manning the border. One such free-kick awarded to the Warriors in the 37th minute had the ball rattling the bar but not a single Jaguar.

The highlight of the game really was in the 68th minute when referee Mr Muhd Taqi sent Asraf Rashid and Shi Jiayi to the dressing room. An exchange of words had enraged Asraf and he would not let the matter rest even after the referee had told the two to cut it out, leaving him no choice at all. The absence of Asraf somehow led to the Jaguars losing their attacking impetus which the Warriors exploited before eventually grabbing their equaliser near the end.

In all honesty, the magnificent Monsef Zerka could have made things harder for the Warriors had he converted a brilliant through ball from Sebastien Etiemble with only Hassan Sunny to beat in the 17th minute. Monsef has only scored three goals this season in seven games and one suspects only because opponents had the whole of 2013 to see what the former Moroccan International is capable of. Extra attention have been paid to him but still, the Moroccan remains a dangerous player and perhaps Kamel Ramdani’s return will take some heat off him.

Alas, many things could have been on the night but a victory it was not. Head Coach Patrick Vallee felt that getting the one point was a positive result and many would agree. The Jaguars, he explained, ”had tremendous fighting spirit and was up against a Warriors side currently on a roll.”

He also said, “I am sure everybody expects more from us in this game, especially after the disappointing result of our previous match but this is a good point to get. People must remember this is a very strong Warriors team, different from last year. I am very delighted by the performance of my team.”

As it is, the Jaguars have nothing to prove in terms of commitment to the cause as the players have always given their all in their games. A lack of goals is always a worry, a legitimate one at that, and it is a worry not lost on Patrick Vallee and the players.

Home United awaits at Bishan Stadium next week and if tonight’s performance was anything to go by, the Protectors can be rest assured that the Jaguars will come running at them with no hesitation and no fear. Till next time!

LINE UPS:
Tanjong Pagar United: Aurelien Herisson, Anthony Aymard, Hafiz Osman(c) (Hanafi Salleh 85’), Masrezwan Masturi, Nor Azli Yusoff, Sazali Salleh, Tengku Mushadad, Sebastien Etiemble, Firdaus Idros (Ruzaini Zainal), Asraf Rashid, Monsef Zerka
Substitutes: Shamsudin Hashim, Hanafi Salleh, Ruzaini Zainal, Shafiq Noh, M Arvin, Lucas Jester, Firdaus Ali

Warriors FC: Hassan Sunny, Jeremy Chiang, Zulfadli Zainal Abidin, Shi Jiayi, Miroslav Pejic, Nicholas Velez, Marin Vidosevic, Hafsyar Farkhan, Kevin McCann, Daniel Bennett, Hafiz Rahim
Substitutes: Neezam Abd Aziz, Irwan Shah, Dharham Aziz, Zulfadli Emran, Nurhazwan Norasikin, Suria Prakash, Basit Mansoor

Referee: Muhd Taqi
Asst Referee 1: Lim Kok Heng
Asst Referee 2: Farhan Abd Rashid
Fourth Official: Muhd Syarqawi