SAFFC notch maiden AFC Champions League football victory

Story by Kenneth Tan/Red Sports. Pictures by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports

Jalan Besar Stadium, Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - In front of 2,278 spectators at a rain-soaked Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore Armed Forces FC (SAFFC) achieved a historic first-ever win in the AFC Champions League (ACL) by beating China's Henan Jianye 2-1.

The goals came in an exciting 12-minute period in the second half where SAFFC scored first on 65 minutes before Henan Jianye equalised on 71 minutes. However SAFFC scored against the run of play five minutes later to retake the lead and held out for the remaining 14 minutes to secure the victory.

SAFFC did not have the best of preparations as they came into this game on the back of a disappointing 3-4 defeat to Young Lions at the same venue. Despite holding a considerable 3-1 lead at half-time, they contrived to throw it all away in a period of 12 second half minutes to lose 3-4.

However they received a big boost just before the match as midfield playmaker John Wilkinson was passed fit and started in a five-man midfield alongside defensive anchormen Niklas Sandberg and Rhysh Roshan Rai.

Japanese winger Taisuke Akiyoshi returns from suspension and started on the flanks along with Ahmad Latiff while retired national forward Indra Sahdan started as the lone striker.

The first half was an evenly-matched one with both sides trading opportunities to score.

Henan started as the better side and created the first real opening of the match on 12 minutes. A corner on the right by captain Lu Feng was headed just over over the bar by centre back Song Tae Lim.

They created another four minutes later. Defensive anchormen Milos Bajalica sent a long ball into the middle of the box for striker Amadou Diallo but SAFFC's Croatian centre back got back well to dispossess the latter.

They then came the closest on 33 minutes. After linking up well with right back Li Zhao Nan, winger Lu Feng crossed into the box for an unmarked Su Jing Yu. Su stoop down low to head the ball towards goal but the effort was parried by SAFFC custodian Shahril Jantan.

SAFFC created a few opportunities as well but was marred by a lack of finishing touch in front of goal.

Firstly on 19 minutes, a freekick was awarded just outside the box after Taisuke Akiyoshi was brought down by Amadou Diallo. Ahmad Latiff's delivery from the right picked out Ivan Lovric at the far post who looked odd-ons to score, however the latter just missed his connection and saw the ball go agonisingly wide of the post by mere inches.

Then on 42 minutes, Rhysh Roshan Rai broke up a Henan attack in midfield and proceeded to pass to Indra Sahdan who took on two defenders before spreading to the right for a marauding John Wilkinson. However Wilkinson's delivery was disappointing as it sailed over the bar.

They created the last opportunity of the half two minutes later when Akiyoshi was once again brought down on the left flank after getting past three Henan defenders. This time round Latiff's free-kick towards the top right corner of the goal was tipped wide by Henan keeper Zeng Cheng.

Both sides tinkered with their tactics at half time and decided to bring off their respective chief strikers. SAFFC replaced Indra Sahdan with 23-year-old Erwan Gurnawan (#9), while Henan brought on Xiao Zhi (#7) to replace Amadou Diallo.

The second half resumed in the same tempo as the first with both sides looking to attack whenever there was an opportunity.

Henan had two opportunities which went close. Firstly on 48 minutes, Milos Bajalica rose the highest after a corner whipped in from the right by Li Zhao Nan but he could only head it over the bar.

Then 15 minutes later, substitute Xu Yang fired a 30-yard volley towards goal but the effort was saved by Shahril with his legs.

SAFFC substitute striker Erwan Gurnawan had his first opportunity on 57 minutes when right back Hafiz Osman sent a low cross into the box. However Erwan could only volley the ball wide of the right-hand post.

Eight minutes later, SAFFC were awarded a free-kick 40 yards from goal and they duly scored via the dead ball. Ahmad Latiff's delivery into the box was only half cleared by Milos Bajalica before Zeng Cheng came out to punch the ball clear. However the ball only fell to an unmarked Daniel Benett who took no invitations to send a blistering volley into the roof of the net, giving Zeng no chance at all.

The goal certainly opened up the game as Henan was forced to attack in order to equalise and they nearly did just one minute later.

Xiao Zhi ran down the right flank before crossing low into the ball for Argentinian forward Leandro Netto but the latter somehow fired the ball over from six yards after being pressured by goalscorer Bennett.

From the resulting goal-kick, SAFFC launched a superb counter-attack and nearly made it 2-0. Erwan Gurnawan and John Wilkinson linked up well on the right flank before the latter managed to get into the box and produce a shot. The effort was blocked, but it fell straight to Erwan just in front of goal who made a snapshot towards the bottom right corner straightaway. However Zeng Cheng did well to deny Erwan as he tipped the ball wide at his near post.

Henan continued to pile on the pressure at the SAFFC goal thereafter and only some desperate defending kept SAFFC in the lead.

Xiao Zhi had an opportunity inside the box on 68 minutes but Shahril came out well to cover his angles and deny the Henan forward.

Two minutes later, a lovely reverse pass by Milos Bajalica released Xu Yang inside the box but the latter's effort was blocked by two SAFFC defenders.

The pressure finally paid off on 71 minutes as they managed to conjure up the equaliser they wanted.

After Ivan Lovric half cleared the ball from central defence, Henan managed to work their way down the left flank for Leandro Netto inside the box. Netto pulled it back well from an acute angle for Yu Le to slide a finish past Shahril into the bottom right corner of the goal.

With confidence brimming from the strike, they began to go on search for the winning goal.

On 74 minutes, Yu Le's cross from the right nearly picked out Netto before Shahril got a hand to the ball to intercept the pass.

One minute later, Xiao Zhi headed wide of the left-hand post after a cross by Zhang Lu from the left flank.

Their spurned opportunities could come back and haunt them as SAFFC managed to score against the run of play on 76 minutes.

John Wilkinson wriggled his way through in the box before the ball was cleared for a corner. The resulting corner whipped in by Ahmad Latiff on the right saw Erwan Gurnawan rose the highest to leap a powerful header home into the top left corner of the goal, leaving Henan keeper Zeng Cheng grasping for air.

It was the 23-year-old's second goal in three ACL matches and he proceeded to slide on the pitch in front of the SAFFC fans in celebration.

Henan was not ready to gift the victory to SAFFC as they dominated the possession in the last 14 minutes to get a second equaliser. However the resolute SAFFC defence refused to buckle as they stood firm in the face of numerous Henan attacks.

On 78 minutes, Xiao Zhi found some space in the penalty area and tried to dribble past Shahril Jantan, but the latter managed to foil him. The ball remained on the left flank and was pull backed towards Milos Bajalica who shot towards the bottom right corner, with Shahril not yet back in goal. However Razaleigh Khalik appeared out-of-nowhere to hack the ball off the line.

Five minutes later, Netto headed wide of the left-hand post once again after a cross from the right.

Xu Yang had an opportunity to shoot from outside the box on 88 minutes but the effort was palmed away by Shahril.

They huffed and puffed but just could not break down the SAFFC defence as the final whistle soon sounded to signal a historic moment for the Warriors.

A disappointed Henan Jianye coach Tang Yao Dong lamented his team's missed opportunities at the post-match press conference.

"We created many opportunities to score but did not take them," he said. "SAFFC created two and took both of them."

When quizzed about his disappointment of conceding both goals from set-pieces, he commented, "I had emphasized to my players that SAFFC is dangerous at set-pieces, however we failed to stop the on both situations as my players failed to mark them tightly enough."

On a final note, he lavished praise on his impression of Singapore football after playing SAFFC in two ACL encounters.

"Singapore football is definitely improving," he said. "They are especially quick in their footwork."

Meanwhile a visibly delighted SAFFC coach Richard Bok paid tribute to his team.

"Firstly I would like to congratulate the boys for achieving their first win in the ACL," he said. "It was a fantastic achievement not only for the club, but also for Singapore football!"

"There is always a slight doubt," Bok responded after being quizzed whether the loss to Young Lions last week has affected their confidence coming into this game. "However considering Henan had to adapt to the artificial pitch and the weather, we thought we had a chance and we took advantage of that.

"We defended very well and repelled everything Henan has to offer," he elaborated on the key to victory. "And with a bit of luck, we managed to achieve the win."

Goalscorer Erwan also received special mention from him.

"He is fresh and very hardworking," he said. "He certainly impressed me with his technical ability."

On a final note, he hoped the victory will boost his team's confidence going into the final game against Suwon away.

"I hope this will be a morale booster for the Suwon match," he said. "I hope the boys will enjoy playing in a big stadium and give their all in the match!"

SAFFC climbed to third position in Group H after this win with four points from five games, while Henan Jianye dropped to the last position with just two points.

In the other Group H encounter, Japanese powerhouse Gamba Osaka came from behind to achieve a 2-1 victory against Korea's Suwon Bluewings at home. The win meant they have qualified for the last-16 along with Suwon. Gamba Osaka currently tops the table with 11 points, while Suwon lie just behind with 10 points.

On the final match day scheduled on Tuesday, April 27th, SAFFC will play their final match away in Suwon looking to cement their third position in the table, meanwhile Henan Jianye will take on Gamba Osaka at home.

Scorers
SAFFC
Daniel Bennett 65'
Erwan Gurnawan 77'
Henan Jianye
Yu Le 71'

SAFFC lineup (4-5-1)
Shahril Jantan (#1, GK, captain); Hafiz Osman (#4), Daniel Bennett (#8), Ivan Lovric (#6), Razaleigh Khalik (#4); Ahmad Latiff (#7), Niklas Sandberg (#5), Rhysh Roshan Rai (#11), John Wilkinson (#10), Taisuke Akiyoshi (#21); Indra Sahdan (#17)

Henan Jianye lineup (4-4-2)
Zeng Cheng (#19, GK), Li Zhao Nan (#37), Qiao Wei (#22), Song Tae Lim (#2), Zhang Lu (#28); Yu Le (#13), Milos Bajalica (#35), Lu Feng (#10, captain), Su Jing Yu (#29); Amadou Diallo (#14), Leandro Netto (#9)

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