Singapore: Warriors Are Champions

Ahmad Latiff’s close range strike was enough to settle the live telecast game as a contest, in which Home United just shaded the first half.

However, the Warriors were no mugs as they were content to soak and strike, then delivered the killer blow in the second period to all but end Home’s faint title hopes.

A lack of concentration at the vital moment and a chronic inability to take chances cost the Protectors dear.

Meanwhile, S.League veteran, record-breaker and goalscoring extraordinaire Aleksandar Duric was delighted and full of pride as he shared his emotions.

“I’m excited, and it’s a great feeling to win three on the trot. Plus the one I won with Geylang United in 2001 makes it four altogether,” mentioned the naturalised Singapore striker.

“It had been a tough season especially when Home United and Super Reds pushed us all the way, but we’ve won and that’s most important.

“The challenge we had gone through could only be good for Singapore football. Now, our focus is to try and qualify for the AFC Champions’ League.”

While the Warriors began the match without the suspended Norikazu Murakami, they set their stall in the usual way, while more of the pressure went on Home who knew they had to perform.

Which they did to an extent, as the away side began brightly with both Kengne Ludovick and Shi Jiayi who struck wide from range, after some good passes from Indra Sahdan Daud.

Ludovick then had another opportunity reaching 11 minutes, but having picked his spot after seizing possession, he did the hard part only to flash his effort wide of the target.

As Home kept up the pressure upfront, the defenders were doing their share, Valery Hiek keeping the likes of Duric and Latiff quiet, while helping out the midfield as and when required.

The Protectors had a letoff approaching 15 minutes, after John Wilkinson missed a sitter from a cross by Latiff.

Still, they only spurred on Home to move forward in a bid to create meaningful chances, but found Shahril Jantan a tough nut to crack in the Warriors goal.

His captain Duric then had another sight on goal in the 25th minute, only to volley was above the bar with Hiek in close attention.

While the Warriors were struggling to create meaningful openings from midfield, Home were just as guilty of letting themselves down, with Shi Jiayi often losing possession after several seconds.

Home realised the need to gain a stronger foothold on the game, and if they had actually scored it could have given them a lift in the second half.

Alas, having emerged in the clear following a sweeping team move, Juma’at Jantan’s snapshot just curled away from the goal.

In between his attempt, Lionel Lewis had to be at his best to deny Duric and subsequently twice from Wilkinson in quick succession.

After coming off his line to prevent Duric getting a sniff on goal, he then made a stupendous save to foil Wilkinson on 43 minutes, as his marker Walid Lounis was left flailing on the floor.

Next, a stern shot only went as far as Lionel’s palms who kept it out with another vital block.

Unfortunately, there was nothing Lionel could do to prevent the inevitable in the 56th minute.

The signs had been coming once SAFFC started the second half strongly, with both Duric and Therdsak Chaiman in the thick of action.

The duo played a big part leading to all-important goal by Latiff, who followed in at the near post to prod home after Lionel parried Therdsak’s initial shot across goal.

Home were now on the backfoot and had to score at least twice in the last half an hour to have any hopes of salvaging something from the game.

Sadly, despite Shahril Ishak’s introduction for Syed Fadhil it had little effect on the team, with Ludovick firing a tame shot straight at Shahril.

Even when fate presented them with a wonderful opportunity to draw level in the 74th minute, little had been left in the tank by then for Home.

Peres de Oliveira stepped up, let himself down horribly and fluffed his big chance with a weak penalty.

Next to Ludovick, who had been pushed to the ground by Daniel Bennett leading up to the botched penalty, then had a glorious chance to restore parity in the 77th minute.

The outcome? He only managed to blast over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

The Warriors recovered from that minor letoff and proceeded to dominate the final ten minutes, in which Wilkinson crashed a free header onto the crossbar on 83 minutes.

Another feign and shot saw him through on goal but his attempt was kept well in check by Lionel.

The party began as soon as the whistle blew after three minutes of stoppages, while head coach Richard Bok gave insights into his team’s success.

“It’s a fantastic achievement. I’d like to congratulate the team, as the players deserved it for their hard work and contribution over the course of the year,” mentioned the reigning coach of the year.

“We made it despite and up and down season, where we had expected a tough campaign from the onset. After previous wins in 2006 and 2007, we had to keep a distance from our challengers.

“For instance, we picked up vital points as Super Reds who were leading at one stage started to drop theirs.

Bok also commented of his hopes and aspirations of the team for 2009.

“There is always good motivation for the team to work even harder and improve for next year, with the new challenge coming in the form of the AFC Champions’ League.

“We have begun work to strengthen our side, with the emphasis on youth and experience as always.”

Meanwhile, Home are left to rue costly defeats as their title drought looks set to continue.

“I felt it was a good game and I could have no complaints. Though we edged the first half we didn’t test Shahril [Jantan] as SAFFC kept possession well for the second period,” quipped tactician PN Sivaji.

“It had been a bad time to concede the goal [Latiff scoring the winner], and we were hurried and chasing the game, especially after Peres missed his penalty.”

Sivaji also spoke of the current mood in the camp, as he looks to the future once the season concludes once their next fixture, Balestier Khalsa at home, goes out of the way.

“We’re disappointed after not coming close enough to take the title.

“Nonetheless, we have made plans to beef up the squad. Had performance been more consistent it could have been a different story but I’m sure the lads can do better next year.”

Ong Jiing Yih

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