 |
| Goals from Thamil Arasu and Wan Zaharulnizam see Harimau Muda claim first win of the S.League season |
In the 81st minute Harimau scored the second and final goal of the game, with Mahalli Jasuli crossing the ball into the six-yard box only to find Wan Zaharulnizam waiting at the far post who skillfully flicked the ball into the net.
Although Hougang United did well to dominate large parts of the game, Tanjong Pagar did a good job holding the hosts to secure a 1-1 draw at Hougang stadium in the second of the first two matches of the 2012 S.League season.
 |
| Jordan Webb opener cancelled out by Takaya Kawanabe equaliser |
The game’s opening goal came in the 23rd minute as 31-year old playmaker Ante Barac crossed the ball into the six-yard box finding Jordan Webb who planted a header into the far corner of the net.
Hougang’s lead did not last for long though, as Takaya Kawanabe’s left-footed curler on 28 minutes saw Tanjong Pagar equalize with the home side. Kawanabe had capitalized on a moment of folly from defender Stanislav Vidakovic, breaking and belting in a shot that found the back of the net.
Balestier Khalsa went into their first game of the season as the underdogs, they put up a valiant fight against customary S.League powerhouse, Home United.Balestier walked away with one point gained, having held the league favourites to a draw.
Singapore Armed Force FC had a tough opening game of the 2012 Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League campaign
when they travelled to Jurong East Stadium on Friday night to meet a slick Albirex Niigata (S) outfit.
Albirex broke deadlock first in the 26th minute.A delicate cross from the right by Toshikazu was perfectly flighted to allow the always lively midfielder, Musashi Okuyama, to glance a header beyond Hassan’s reach.
Just two minutes before the break, a poor clearance from Hassan Sunny was intercepted by Masatake Sato, who fed the lurking and predatory Toshikazu. He finished well with an angled shot from the right of the six-yard box.
A move begun by Musashi and Masatake led to another exchange of passes between Toshikazu and asatake, that yielded a third goal for the home side.
Indecision in the centre of defence saw the ball played over the top and then fed wide. Hassan Sunny left his line, but was unable to stop Toshikazu netting his second of the evening with a smart, angled finish.
Karoglan came down under a strong challenge inside the box and last sason's Referee of the Year, Leow Thiam Hoe, pointed to the spot adjudging that Albirex skipper, Norihiro Kawakami, a survivor of the 2011 team, had fouled the free-scoring Croatian star.
Karoglan, an expert penalty-taker, did not disappoint, sending the keeper diving to his right, but firing the ball to his left.
From fully 30 metres out, midfield recruit, Shukor Zailan, managed to unleash a pile-driver that crashed into the net off the left-hand upright to make it 3-2.
