By Song Sung Hai

Questions were asked and shoulders slumped just four nights ago at Queenstown Stadium and there were doubts as to whether the Jaguars could find in it in them to lift themselves up so soon after that setback at home. The Jaguars turned up at Woodlands Stadium, did some massive soul-searching for 45 minutes and rediscovered the strength, the quality and the style which has defined the team last season, ending the encounter with a 2-0 victory over the northern Rams.

Everyone stood up when it mattered and it was crucial that the Jaguars get their first victory in the S.League after that last win against Courts Young Lions two moons ago. Languishing in tenth place for a team brimming and bursting with so much quality was simply not right and the players knew that and last night, they showed everyone how the season should have been.

Captain Ahmad Latiff and Hafiz Osman were inspiring in defence. Both communicated well with each other and the rest of the team, helping to launch attacks from deep which troubled the Rams to no end. The defensive flanks were patrolled vigilantly and rabidly by both Asraf Rashid and Ruzaini Zainal, who also involved themselves in attack by constantly running down the flanks as additional support.

Hanafi Salleh and Anthony Aymard were tasked to hold the midfield and both did so with rabid enthusiasm, throwing limbs and bodies where lesser mortals feared to tread. Sazali ‘SuperSaz’ Salleh held his own in the middle, constantly dropping down and moving up like a mechanical workhorse, providing impetus in both defence and attack, thwarting and creating in a deadly unison of skill and courage.

With these departments working, the offensive triangle of Sebastien Etiemble on the right flank, Kamel Ramdani on the left and Monsef Zerka upfront, flourished and the Rams found themselves defending with ten men throughout the match and only that prevented the game from turning into an absolute rout.

The game was pretty much a stalemate for the first 45 minutes with the referee missing Goh Swee Swee shoving Sebastien Etiemble in the box at the 29th minute of play to give the Rams an extension of false hope even if they did manage to muster some threatening counter-attacks later in the game.

Aurelien Herisson was at his season’s best. Save after save from point blank range attempts turned it into a personal duel between him and the two Koreans from Woodlands. In the 54th minute, Moon Soon Ho was denied and Chang Jo Yoon saw at least three sure attempts skilfully nulled into oblivion by a Jaguar custodian who rediscovered the joys of keeping goal.

So it was then, that the Jaguars stabbed not once, but twice to slay their stubborn adversary on a decisively humid Singapore evening. A poor clearance from Walid Lounis in the 60th minute ricocheted off Atsushi Shimono right outside the box which rolled into the kill-zone of master finisher Monsef Zerka.

He may not have had much hits the whole season, busying himself with other important tasks each time and fulfilling the other need the team had of him. This time though, he was free and the target was ripe for the picking. What came off his right boot was a ballistic missile homing in with a wicked swerve that almost ripped the net, leaving Yazid Yasin sprawled on the pitch, perhaps even thankful such a killer did not hit him.

The finishing blow came from an unlikely source, one so underrated that it seemed so fitting that it should be by him. A botched corner kick in the 80th minute was picked up by Monsef Zerka just outside the Jaguars’ box, who forced his legs into one last burst of speed which carried him all the way into the heart of the Woodlands defence. His every move was watched keenly by four Rams who were determined to not let him have his way again.

Such was the gravity of his influence, always emanating an aura of danger that the four failed to notice Hafiz Osman speeding down a gap in the middle to receive the pass from Monsef. The ball was pushed to the right in a heartbeat where Sebastien Etiemble was waiting, having also infiltrated unnoticed.

Just a touch was needed to place the ball into prime crossing position and Sebastien wasted no time in doing so. Hafiz Osman had made his way into the box and Sebastien knew what had to be done. A sublimely weighted cross came curling into the box, unmatched by Farouq Farkhan and Milos Jevtic. Hafiz Osman was the only one that the cross was intended for and the ball found its mark.

Hafiz greeted the ball low with his head and dived into it for additional force and no one could do anything as the ball flew into the left corner of goal to complete a beautiful attacking manoeuvre which pitted three Jaguars against four determined Rams.

Assistant Jaguars coach Nicolas Possetti was at hand to speak on behalf of Head Coach Patrick Vallée and he expressed unbridled joy at the manner of victory on the night.

“I’d have to congratulate the team because the players, they keep on fighting and trying all the time even on the occasions we did not win. Tonight, they got what they deserve for their hard work and I cannot be happier for the lads.”

The victory came at a time when it was most unexpected but it was by no means accidental. The Jaguars are a force to reckon with and they have been so for most parts of the season, if only frequently restrained by wretched luck but tonight, they took their destiny with clawed paws and got what they truly deserved.

Woodlands Wellington were the fresher side with over ten days of rest and the Jaguars were playing their second game in four days but perhaps it is as the saying goes; ‘Lamb meat tastes best served fresh.’

Till next time!

LINE UPS

Tanjong Pagar United: Aurelien Herisson, Hafiz Osman, Ahmad Latiff(c), Ruzaini Zainal, Asraf Rashid, Anthony Aymard, Sazali Salleh, Hanafi Salleh, Kamel Ramdani, Sebastien Etiemble, Monsef Zerka
Head Coach: Patrick Vallée
Substitutes: Shamsudin Hashim, Tengku Mushadad, Shafiq Noh, M Arvin, Zairul Rahmat, Afiq Tan, Firdaus Ali

Woodlands Wellington FC: Yazid yasin(c), Walid Lounis, Atsushi Shimono, Chang Jo Yoon, Goh Swee Swee, Moon Soonho, Taufiq Ghani, Milos Jevtic, Shafuan Sutohmoh, Fadhil Noh, Rosman Sulaiman
Head COach: Darren Stewart
Substitutes: Ahmadulhaq Che Omar, Bah Mamadou, Armanizam Dolah, Andy Ahmad, Farouq Farkhan, Sobrie Mazelan, Patrick Paran

Referee: Lim Kok Heng
Asst Ref 1: Muhd Syarqawi
Asst Ref 2: Daniel Wong
Fourth Official: Jansen Foo