Young Lions beat hapless Hougang
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| Hougang keeper Khairulhin Khalid, here in an earlier encounter, had a torrid time against the Young Lions at Jalan Besar. |
2nd half substitute Ikhsan Fandi marked his return from injury with a goal as Young Lions beat
10-man Hougang United by three goals to nil.
Fazrul Nawaz made his debut for Hougang, having signed on a last-minute loan deal from Tampines
only a couple days before. Head coach Clement Teo played both Fazrul and Iqbal Hussein as the
frontmen in a conventional 4-4-2 formation.
Young Lions came into this game on the back of a 9-game winless streak. They had Ikhsan Fandi
back from injury on the bench just in case he was needed to bolster an ailing Young Lions attack.
The hosts had the better of the early exchanges and duly took the lead on 23 minutes. Hami Syahin
gleefully tapped home a great cross from Prakash Raj, who had been set free with a great ball
from Ifwat Ismail down the right flank.
Young Lions could have doubled their lead shortly after with Rusyaidi Salime forcing a good save
from Hougang custodian Khairulhin Khalid after being put through by Joshua Pereira.
Iqbal had chances either side of half-time for Hougang, with one shot into the side netting and
a second effort rolling weakly to Zharfan Rohaizad in the Young Lions goal.
Hougang would then squander their most gilt-edged chance when a slip from Zulqarnaen Suzliman in
the box left both Fazrul and Muhaimin Suhaimi open for a free shot. But desperate defending from
Prakash prevented a Hougang equalizer as he threw himself at Muhaimin's shot.
The game was turned on its head in the 82nd minute.
Shafiq Ghani, who came on as a second half substitute, had his cross-shot parried for a corner by
Zharfan. From the resulting corner, Zulqarnaen led the Young Lions on the counter-attack. With
Hougang pushing so many forward, only Jordan Vestering was left at the back with little option
but to bring down Zulqarnaen, resulting in a straight red for for the full-back.
The personnel advantage hit home just a minute later, with Pereira squaring the ball for substitute
Haiqal Pashia to finish after a great dummy by the returning Ikhsan Fandi. Scorer then turned provider
as Ikhsan added gloss to the victory with a sliding finish high into the net.
Hougang remain rooted to the bottom of the Singapore Premier League table while Young Lions lie 6th
after 16 games played.
10-man Hougang United by three goals to nil.
Fazrul Nawaz made his debut for Hougang, having signed on a last-minute loan deal from Tampines
only a couple days before. Head coach Clement Teo played both Fazrul and Iqbal Hussein as the
frontmen in a conventional 4-4-2 formation.
Young Lions came into this game on the back of a 9-game winless streak. They had Ikhsan Fandi
back from injury on the bench just in case he was needed to bolster an ailing Young Lions attack.
The hosts had the better of the early exchanges and duly took the lead on 23 minutes. Hami Syahin
gleefully tapped home a great cross from Prakash Raj, who had been set free with a great ball
from Ifwat Ismail down the right flank.
Young Lions could have doubled their lead shortly after with Rusyaidi Salime forcing a good save
from Hougang custodian Khairulhin Khalid after being put through by Joshua Pereira.
Iqbal had chances either side of half-time for Hougang, with one shot into the side netting and
a second effort rolling weakly to Zharfan Rohaizad in the Young Lions goal.
Hougang would then squander their most gilt-edged chance when a slip from Zulqarnaen Suzliman in
the box left both Fazrul and Muhaimin Suhaimi open for a free shot. But desperate defending from
Prakash prevented a Hougang equalizer as he threw himself at Muhaimin's shot.
The game was turned on its head in the 82nd minute.
Shafiq Ghani, who came on as a second half substitute, had his cross-shot parried for a corner by
Zharfan. From the resulting corner, Zulqarnaen led the Young Lions on the counter-attack. With
Hougang pushing so many forward, only Jordan Vestering was left at the back with little option
but to bring down Zulqarnaen, resulting in a straight red for for the full-back.
The personnel advantage hit home just a minute later, with Pereira squaring the ball for substitute
Haiqal Pashia to finish after a great dummy by the returning Ikhsan Fandi. Scorer then turned provider
as Ikhsan added gloss to the victory with a sliding finish high into the net.
Hougang remain rooted to the bottom of the Singapore Premier League table while Young Lions lie 6th
after 16 games played.
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