By Song Sung Hai

It was another night of firsts for Head Coach Patrick Vallée and captain Ahmad Latiff as the Jaguars tore the White Swans apart in a 4-0 trouncing earlier at Queenstown Stadium in our group match of the Starhub League Cup.

The result meant that Patrick Vallée finally got his first win over Albirex Niigata (S) in all competitions with the Jaguars and what a way it was for the team to break their duck against the Japanese outfit. A complete control of the game cancelled out any designs the White Swans may have had against the Jaguars.

Many had expected the likes of Monsef Zerka or Kamel Ramdani to be the spark that would see the Jaguars off against a very determined opponent but another player joined them as they orchestrated the demise of the White Swans.

Head Coach Patrick Vallée played Captain Ahmad Latiff in attack from the start for the very first time of his tenure with the Jaguars and what dividends that move reaped! The veteran player, who started his career as a forward, showed all present that he still had what it takes with his first ever goal in all competitions with the Jaguars and one assist. He also played a crucial part in winning the penalty for the Jaguars’ second goal.

The game was a cagey affair from the start, with both sides eager not to make any mistakes that might give the other any advantages. Yet it was only ten minutes into the game when the Jaguars pounced and got the first goal through an inspired Monsef Zerka contribution.

Monsef Zerka won back the ball down the right side from an Albirex defender and spotted Ahmad Latiff lurking in the box. A quick low drill into the box evaded everyone but Ahmad Latiff and he had no issues slotting the ball home from that range.

Monsef Zerka himself came close in the 24th minute with a blistering long range shot which flew just over but he was not to be denied later.

Tengku Mushadad started the game in place of Anthony Aymard, who took an elbow to his eye in the previous game, and made his presence felt countless times. Partnering Sazali Salleh in the centre of midfield, the two seemed impenetrable and so they were on the night.

Tengku Mushadad also had a shot saved in the 37th minute after some brilliant play in midfield saw Kamel Ramdani laying off the ball to him. Tengku shot off a low cannonball goalwards but it went straight into the arms of the Japanese custodian.

Ahmad Latiff came to the fore again in the 42nd minute as he chased down a through ball into the box and got there first but the Albirex custodian, Kenjiro Ogino, also showed steely determination and managed to catch Ahmad Latiff’s ankle in the process.

The referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Sebastien Etiemble did not miss from the spot to put the Jaguars up by two goals in the first half.

Normally, the Queenstown faithfuls would be praying hard that the Jaguars simply keep their lead going into the second half but the Jaguars were not yet done.

Monsef Zerka showed his class in the 68th minute with a brilliant individual effort to make it three for the Jaguars. Robbing the ball in midfield, Monsef raced into the box and executed a delicate chip over the onrushing Ogino.

Receiving the ball in the box in the 72nd minute, Ahmad Latiff shoved and fought to keep the ball in possession whilst under pressure from three defenders. Just when it seemed he was going to lose the ball, Ahmad Latiff slid in to direct the ball towards a waiting Sebastien Etiemble at the edge of the box and the Frenchman returned the favour with a splendid shot into the right-hand corner of goal to make it four.

The Jaguars almost made it five in the dying minutes but Tengku Mushadad’s screamer of a free-kick rattled the crossbar and bounced to safety.

A delighted Head Coach Patrick Vallée congratulated his team for a brilliant display of football after the game and acknowledged that it was a good result against a difficult Albirex Niigata team.

He said, “Everyone performed well and to score four goals against Albirex sums it up well. But I am not surprised with this performance because a lot of times in the season, we could have scored more goals.”

Patrick also praised the manner in which his team attacked the opponents but cautioned that the team remain humble and focused as they still have one more game in the group to play.

“We still have Police SA to play and nobody knows this team as they are not in the S. League but we know they will give a hundred percent to get a result against us,” he continued. “My team must now rest and prepare for this Sunday’s game and hopefully we can reach the Quarter-Final.”

Patrick Vallée also dedicated the win to his best friend in France who passed away the day before, saying that “I am very sad about it and I need to get one thought about him in.”

Queenstown Stadium will still be the venue when the Jaguars take on Police SA this Sunday in our second group game of the Starhub League Cup.

Till next time!

Tanjong Pagar United: Aurelien Herisson, Tengku Mushadad, Hafiz Osman, Hanafi Salleh, Zahid Ahmad (Asraf Rashid 61′), Nor Azli Yusoff, Sebastien Etiemble, Ahmad Latiff(c) (Firdaus Idros 75′), Kamel Ramdani, Sazali Salleh (Ruzaini Zainal 90′), Monsef Zerka
Substitutes: Shafiq Noh, Asraf Rashid, Anthony Aymard, Shamsudin Hashim, Firdaus Idros, Ruzaini Zainal, Zairul Rahmat
Head Coach: Patrick Vallée
Cautions: Ahmad Latiff (22′)

Albirex Niigata (S): Kejiro Ogino, Norihiro Kawakami, Kento Fujihara (Soichiro Tanaka 62′), Itsuki Yamada, Keisuke Ota, Kosuke Matsuda, Kento Nagasaki (Kazuya Fukuzaki 46′), Kazuki Sakamoto, Shuhei Hotta, Koki Akasaka, Kazuya Okazaki (Ikuma Osaka 81′)
Substitutes: Taiyo Nishida, kazuya Fukuzaki, Soichiro Tanaka, Hiroki Morisaki, Ikuma Osaka, Kazuki Kishigami, Kaoru Nishio
Head Coach: Tatsuyuki Okuyama
Cautions: Kenjiro Ogino (43′), Kosuke Matsuda (83′)

Referee: Muhd Taqi
Asst Ref 1: Manoj Kalwani
Asst Ref 2: Nathan Chan
Fourth Official: Ong Chai Lee