By Song Sung Hai

A defeat by four goals is never easy to accept. To lose by such a scoreline while playing badly may perhaps offer the standard “bad day at the office” explanation. Last night begged no such explanation as Home United forced their way to victory with three goals from set-pieces and only one from open play.

A frustrating first half was perhaps initiated when Anthony Aymard fell and could not get up in as early as the second minute. A pulled hamstring had ended his night though he tried to play on for the next five minutes but it was impossible. Without the suspended Captain Hafiz Osman, the Jaguars backline was newly compromised by the sudden development.

Lee Kwan Woo made it known that the Jaguars were his preferred prey when he converted a free-kick from just outside the box in the 31st minute which had Aurelien Herisson rooted to the ground.

Home United’s second came from a corner kick with Kwon Dakyung jumping highest in the box to nod the ball over Aurelien and into goal. Their third was a freekick inside the center circle of the pitch. Kwon Dakyung spotted Aurelien off his line and he smashed the ball upwards to score an audacious goal.

The Jaguars cannot be blamed for not playing hard enough as the players once again ran themselves to the ground by the inability to get that finishing move in attack took its toll on the players and Home United were merciless in punishing the Jaguars for it.

Sazali Salleh was inspirational in midfield and despite his size, made several challenges on the towering Precious Emuejeraye and won several times. Firdaus Idros, Sebastien Etiemble and stand-in captain Monsef Zerka combined well to stretch the Protectors’ back-line several times but the final touch simply did not materialise.

Sebastien Etiemble had several opportunities to get goals back for the Jaguars but the target was unachievable that night. One shot in the 58th minute struck the crossbar, another was intercepted by the stretched leg of Shahril Jantan a few minutes later and one attempt was denied by the head of Juma’at Jantan.

Shahril Jantan was in top form last night and that helped prevent any possible comebacks. He even pulled off one good save in the 47th minute from a well-struck Monsef Zerka free-kick.

The Lightning Warning System was activated in the 67th minute and play was halted for about fifteen minutes but it did nothing to change the game. It took only six minutes from the restart of the game for Home United to put one more past the Jaguars. An unmarked Izzdin Shafiq met a loose ball in the box and he had no problems putting it past Aurelien.

The remainder of the game had the Jaguars holding possession in the Home United half but simply could not get even a consolation.

A resigned Jaguars Head Coach Patrick Vallee would only accept that his players were unlucky and that they were not to be blamed for the loss.

He added, ”We gave them some problems in the game and my players worked very hard. This is only one defeat and if you know me, it is not finished yet. I am not finished and nor is my team. We will work hard and get back into things.”

The Jaguars will have a whole week to lick our wounds and the defending champions await us at Jalan Besar Stadium next Friday.

Till next time!

LINE UPS:
Tanjong Pagar United: Aurelien Herisson, Anthony Aymard (M Arvin 7′ / Seah Si Hao 68′), Hanafi Salleh, Tengku Mushadad, Nor Azli Yusoff, Sazali Salleh, Sebastien Etiemble, Firdaus Idros, Ruzaini Zainal, Monsef Zerka
Substitutes: Shamsudin Hashim, Shafiq Noh, M Arvin, Lucas Jester, Firdaus Ali, Justin Khiang, Seah Si Hao
Cautions: Ruzaini Zainal (90′)

Home United: Shahril Jantan, Juma’at Jantan, Ismail Yunos, Kwon Dakyung, Sirina Camara, Precious Emuejeraye, Izzdin Shafiq, Lee Kwan Woo, Bruno Castanheira, Qiu Li, Fazrul Nawaz
Substitutes: Farhan Amin, Yasir Hanapi, Song Inyoung, Fazli Ayob, Shaheer Afiq, Indra Sahdan, Ahmad Fahmie

Referee: Irwan Shamsuddin
Asst Referee 1: Er Swee Ann
Asst Referee 2: Syed Ibrahim
Fourth Official: Sukhbir Singh