Tanjong Pagar United 0-1 Courts Young Lions
25 August 2013
Queenstown Stadium

By Ong Jiing Yih

Tanjong Pagar suffered deja vu for the second year running against Courts Young Lions at home after an own goal consigned them to an unnecessary defeat.

With just as much fanfare if not a lot less goal-laden unlike the previous two encounters, the Jaguars huffed and puffed and should have created enough opportunities to win.

Instead, an extra man-of-the-match award could have been awarded to the match referee for his 'aptitude' and 'glorified professionalism' in a display full of indecisions, flurry of cards and an amazing penalty award.

Half an hour into the match, Sherif El-Masri picked himself up from a perceived 'foul' by K Vikraman and attempted to reach for Aurelien Herisson's right hand side.

However, poetic justice was served as the ball crashed mercifully off the post.

Otherwise it was a deeply irritating encounter as typified by Asraf Rashid who shot, then witnessed a goal line clearance that thwarted him.

Herisson then came up trumps in the 82nd minute with a stupendous save to deny substitute Sahil Suhaimi from the spot, despite his side trailing.

Ahead of the setback Hanafi Salleh and Asraf were included in the first eleven as the suspended Kamel Ramdani, who had been clearly missed, missed out..

It was the visitors who conjured up the first corner after four minutes, though Herisson had the last laugh by holding onto the ball in its aftermath.

Undeterred, the hosts began to fashion a series of chances and Anthony Aymard almost profited from John Wilkinson's cross.

Monsef Zerka then launched a freekick beyond the wall and out of play after 15 minutes.

With the game slowly taking on a tense, cagey complexion Hafiz Nor took it upon himself to produce some magic.

Having seamlessly glided past Hanafi Ghazali however, the winger was then stopped in his tracks.

Zerka too was keen and adamant in a bid to seek out the likes of Ismael Benahmed in the box but his intended low cross was kept out by Rudy Khairullah.

With much to do in the second half, the defence could barely afford to see half-chances like El-Masri's half volley flash past.

Still, Tanjong Pagar held the aces as Benahmed arched a header just wide following a corner from Hafiz.

Firman Hanif then caused immediate concern moments later by latching onto a corner from his skipper Raihan Rahman, only to head into the side netting.

Approaching the 65th-minute mark, both Wilkinson and Zahid Ahmad combined to set up Asraf for placement but for a set of light blue shirts to foil the effort.

Regardless, the hosts continued to pile on the pressure when Wilkinson took matters into his own hands with a stinning 25-yard drive.

The attempt was matched by a save from Rudy, unfortunately.

In addition, a constant barrage of fouls and offsides disrupted the momentum for the Jaguars, meaning the visitors regrouped at every given opportunity.

Worst was to follow when Ignatius Ang, on as late substitute, carved out a cross that was sliced into the wrong net for the freak goal ten minutes from time.

Ahmad Latiff's dubious second yellow for a perceived tangle, after his first for impeding El-Masri in the box on 82 minutes, compounded an already lingering air of frustration.

Post match, Head coach Patrick Vallee eked out a smile in spite of circumstances.

“This is the first time I congratulate Courts Young Lions – they're a good team and have improved a lot. Something's happened, it's a below-par performance but again if we lose it's our fault.

“We couldn't do what we wanted; we can't complain even though we missed Ramdani and Sazali (Salleh). It's football, we must adapt and mustn't give up. We cant do anything to change the result. Had to scored one, if we took our chances to score two it'd been different. We keep to our objectives and hope to bounce back on Wednesday.”