Nights like these to make a nation dream again
 |
| This is Home, truly. Can the Lions re-awaken this sort of passion in the home crowd come November 9th? |
Throughout the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season. Editor Kheng Hui patiently waited for an
update for the Eurosnob blog. In all honesty, I struggled to pen my thoughts down, let alone put it in
an article/blog. A writer’s block if you will. For that I apologise. But the Singapore Premier League just
felt routine, seeing Albirex run away with the title. Everyone else just falling so far short of expectations.
It was disappointing.
But last night breathed new life into me again from a Singapore Football and writing perspective.
update for the Eurosnob blog. In all honesty, I struggled to pen my thoughts down, let alone put it in
an article/blog. A writer’s block if you will. For that I apologise. But the Singapore Premier League just
felt routine, seeing Albirex run away with the title. Everyone else just falling so far short of expectations.
It was disappointing.
But last night breathed new life into me again from a Singapore Football and writing perspective.
It was such a sight, to see almost 4000 people behind the home side. Cheering every single
successful tackle, cheering at every single opportunity that came Home's way. And booing loudly
at any Ceres indiscretion, as Stephan Shrock found out on a consistent basis. Of course, the way he
kept going down definitely warranted the reaction.
successful tackle, cheering at every single opportunity that came Home's way. And booing loudly
at any Ceres indiscretion, as Stephan Shrock found out on a consistent basis. Of course, the way he
kept going down definitely warranted the reaction.
Home United came into this knowing that they just needed to make sure they kept Ceres Negros from
scoring and hopefully grab a goal of their own. Their head-to-head record this season favoured Home
with two draws and a win. But they were all too wary of the threat that Ceres posed with their new
signing Brad Powell, who scored in the previous leg, in the side.
scoring and hopefully grab a goal of their own. Their head-to-head record this season favoured Home
with two draws and a win. But they were all too wary of the threat that Ceres posed with their new
signing Brad Powell, who scored in the previous leg, in the side.
The first 15 minutes for me were pretty terrifying. Ceres came here with one thing in mind. To
bombard Home’s inexperienced keeper Rudy Khairullah as much as possible. And that they did,
with the Home custodian having to make a few telling interventions from Patrick Reichelt, Brad
Powell and Shrock. Props to Rudy who was resilient throughout.
bombard Home’s inexperienced keeper Rudy Khairullah as much as possible. And that they did,
with the Home custodian having to make a few telling interventions from Patrick Reichelt, Brad
Powell and Shrock. Props to Rudy who was resilient throughout.
Watching on, you definitely felt that the best chances that Home could muster would probably be on
the counter-attack or with a neatly-worked set play. And it nearly did happen when Antono Doblas in
the Ceres goal had to tip over a dangerous Izzdin Shafiq free kick.
the counter-attack or with a neatly-worked set play. And it nearly did happen when Antono Doblas in
the Ceres goal had to tip over a dangerous Izzdin Shafiq free kick.
Ceres still had opportunities to score but a lengthy stoppage in play due to injuries to Abdil Qaiyyim
and Reichelt halted the momentum. The latter looking the most concerning with the need for a
stretcher and a neck brace.
and Reichelt halted the momentum. The latter looking the most concerning with the need for a
stretcher and a neck brace.
Half-time then came with Home going into the break knowing they were just a half away from exacting
revenge on their opponents after last season’s final heartbreak.
revenge on their opponents after last season’s final heartbreak.
Both sides started the second half cautiously, but you could see Home taking advantage of some of
the space Ceres were leaving at the back. Home nearly took advantage on 61 minutes with Faritz
Hameed firing wide with aid of a deflection.
the space Ceres were leaving at the back. Home nearly took advantage on 61 minutes with Faritz
Hameed firing wide with aid of a deflection.
Silence, corner floats in, stadium erupts!
Poor marking from Ceres allows Shakir Hamzah to attack the corner and slam it past Doblas. The
stadium is jumping with all manner of celebration. Flags flying high marking the eve of our
National Day, people hugging each other, and the drummers aiming their excitements at their snares.
stadium is jumping with all manner of celebration. Flags flying high marking the eve of our
National Day, people hugging each other, and the drummers aiming their excitements at their snares.
What a noise the stadium was producing! It was only going to get louder when Song Ui-Yong gleefully
nodded in a fantastic cross from the right by Faritz. Song was by far a peripheral figure due to his
return from a month and a half injury lay off. But you always knew that he could produce when the
moment came his way.
nodded in a fantastic cross from the right by Faritz. Song was by far a peripheral figure due to his
return from a month and a half injury lay off. But you always knew that he could produce when the
moment came his way.
From then on, as Ceres legs went, the Singaporean voices never wavered. And at the final whistle,
it just got louder. Home had done it. They were AFC Cup Zonal winners in ASEAN. To others it might
not seem a big deal, but to local football fans it means the world.
it just got louder. Home had done it. They were AFC Cup Zonal winners in ASEAN. To others it might
not seem a big deal, but to local football fans it means the world.
It was such a plucky performance by Home. They were first to every ball, worked hard when they
didn’t have possession. Showing the kind of discipline that Coach Aidil Sharin clearly instilled in his
wards. Yes, there were times that Ceres went close. But in all honesty, without Bienvenido Maranon
due to suspension, they looked pretty toothless.
didn’t have possession. Showing the kind of discipline that Coach Aidil Sharin clearly instilled in his
wards. Yes, there were times that Ceres went close. But in all honesty, without Bienvenido Maranon
due to suspension, they looked pretty toothless.
The Ceres press conference was a pretty sombre one with coach Risto Vidakovic congratulating
Home for being the better side and looking at Reichelt’s injury as a major factor in the loss as it left
them with only one striker on the pitch. But he praised his players who fought all the way to the end
despite the setbacks they faced during the game.
Home for being the better side and looking at Reichelt’s injury as a major factor in the loss as it left
them with only one striker on the pitch. But he praised his players who fought all the way to the end
despite the setbacks they faced during the game.
Man of the match Song and coach Aidil Sharin walked in to the press room to a well-deserved round
of applause. Aidil praised his players who came out and executed his game plan to the letter. On
being asked what this result means for Singapore football, he stated his hope that this result can
make football fans here believe again that there is a shining light at the end of the tunnel.
of applause. Aidil praised his players who came out and executed his game plan to the letter. On
being asked what this result means for Singapore football, he stated his hope that this result can
make football fans here believe again that there is a shining light at the end of the tunnel.
Wednesday night will live long in the memory for me for sure. As someone coming back to the local
football scene after so long, it was weird to be feeling proud of local football. But I wouldn’t trade that
feeling for anything in the world right now.
football scene after so long, it was weird to be feeling proud of local football. But I wouldn’t trade that
feeling for anything in the world right now.
Thank you Home United for giving me and the nation a reason to believe again.
Comments
Post a Comment