Home United 4-1 Tanjong Pagar United
8 November 2013, Jalan Besar Stadium
Sirina Camara (’13), Kwon Dakyung (’14), Lee Kwan Woo (’27), Kamel Ramdani (’89), Sofiyan Abdul Hamid (’92)

Any hopes of Hafiz Osman, Monsef Zerka and company replicating the success of S. Subramani, Dragan Talajic and the class of 1998 in the 2013 RHB Singapore Cup were dashed, thanks to a football masterclass from Lee Kwan Woo as we crashed to a 1-4 loss last night.

Our dreams of winning this silverware – as well as head coach Patrick Vallee’s dream of a local Grand Slam (S.League, Singapore Cup and League Cup) – were virtually dashed by the South Korean talisman after 27 minutes had gone.

Two set plays he orchestrated resulted in quickfire goals from Sirina Camara and Kwon Da Kyung before he netted to complete a perfect game.

Yet it could have gone all our way after just seven minutes. Camara dallied too long with the ball while he carried the ball out of his own box.

In came Ahmad Latiff Kamaruddin to slide in and catch the French Protector unawares as the ball was distributed to Kamel Ramdani for a first glorious opportunity at goal.

Alas, our midfield mastero took a tad too long and squandered the chance to give the anticipating Jaguars faithful an early reason to celebrate.

This was as good as we got in the first half as Lee and company showed how scoring should be done. From a corner on the right, Kwon’s header at the far post crashed against the crossbar.
With our Jaguars failing to clear the ball, it was left to Camara to make amends for his early mistake to score home the rebound after just 12 minutes.

Bewildered, we attempted to chase but were almost immediately on the back foot when our Captain Marvel was booked for a challenge, conceding another free kick.

In most cases, it wasn’t a problem, but this was Lee Kwan Woo with his magical set-play foot. An inswinger from the left saw Kwon dive in to head home, with Aurelien Herisson no chance to get even a fingertip.

Shattered, but our lads kept plugging away even as Home pressed on to increase the advantage. Spirits were willing, but the opponents were playing from a different pedestal rarely seen in the league this season.

The Lee show was complete, sadly for us, when he tucked home a low drilled cross from Hafiz Rahim. And the game was just 27 minutes old.

Plenty of thought for Vallee as he had to tear his pre-match notes and think on his feet against the one side he has never beaten throughout this season.

The final could have been all over before the break but for our players’ gallantry. Herisson kept us in contention with several vital interceptions, including a save to prevent Firdaus Idros from scoring.

Anthony Aymard also never stopped, putting in a strong shift and protecting his vulnerable defensive partner Walid Lounis. A vital interception gave a glimmer of hope that our Jaguars could do a Jalan Besar miracle after the break.

Ramdani sent Zerka through on goal on 50 minutes, but Camara was close by to deflect the latter’s desperate effort from outside the box out for a corner.

Opting to go for broke, Vallee sent on winger Hafiz Nor as the Jaguars switched to a direct 4-4-2. That gave our Jaguars some momentum but Home remained tough to break down.

We finally had our first attempt on target on 67 minutes when Asraf Rashid sent his direct free kick straight into the gloves of Shahril Jantan.

With seven minutes to go, it all seemed that even getting a consolation for our efforts this season proved to be beyond us – Hanafi Salleh scoffed a cross from Latiff before Zerka saw his rebound saved.

Walid then completed a miserable final outing when he was sent to the showers for a foul on 88 minutes.

A man down but yet a glimmer of hope as a howler from former Singapore international Shahril on the line provided a glimmer of hope towards the end. Ramdani was nearly to tuck home from metres out.

Unfortunately Home had the last laugh as they hammered the final nail into our coffin. A lob from Song Ui Young found Sofiyan Abdul Hamid who displayed the composure of a forward to receive the ball, take it past our defence and fire past Herisson to put the result beyond doubt.

A tragic ending to what has otherwise been a sterling fine season under Vallee. We hope this season’s performances will provide a foundation for our Jaguars as we continue to rebuild back to the glory days of old.

Home United: Shahril Jantan, Noh Rahman (C), Ismail Yunos (Sevki Sha’ban ’48), Kwan Dakyung, Sirina Camara, Hafiz Rahim, Jordan Webb, Firdaus Idros, Lee Kwan Woo (Haziq Azman ’84), Nor Azli Yusoff (Sofiyan Abdul Hamid ’62), Song Uiyoung
Coach: Lee Lim Saeng
Bookings: Jordan Webb (’37), Nor Azli Yusoff (’60), Noh Rahman (’66)

Tanjong Pagar United: Aurelien Herisson, Hafiz Osman (C), Anthony Aymard, Walid Lounis, Zahid Ahmad, John Wilkinson (Hafiz Nor ’52), Ahmad Latiff, Kamel Ramdani, Asraf Rashid, Ismael Benahmed (Hanafi Salleh 73′), Monsef Zerka
Coach: Patrick Vallee
Bookings: Hafiz Osman (’14), Kamel Ramdani (’35), Anthony Aymard (’44), Asraf Rashid (’49), Walid Lounis (’83, ’88)
Sent Off: Walid Lounis (’88)

Referee: Abdul Malik
Assistant Referees: Edwin Lee, Ronnie Koh
Fourth Official: Sukhbir Singh