SAFFC thrash Super Reds to go four points clear with two games to go

By Les Tan. Photos by Lai Jun Wei.

Yishun Stadium, Wednesday, November 5, 2008 – SAFFC beat Super Reds 3-0 tonight to go four points clear at the top of the S.League table to remain on course for an unprecedented third title in a row.

SAFFC have to play against Gombak next and should they win, the title is theirs regardless of what Home United does. A loss against Gombak will keep the title chase alive.

This was a game the Super Reds had to win to keep their title hopes alive but their lack of finishing put paid to their hopes. They dominated in stretches, creating numerous chances for themselves but it was SAFFC who showed them how to finish by scoring against the run of play, especially the second goal by Norikazu Murakami.

The 3-0 scoreline will be look unflattering for the Super Reds but they will have earned the respect of neutrals tonight with their industry, stamina and perseverance.

SAFFC, showed their experience against the younger Korean side. Their ability to hold off the Koreans and then to make their chances count proved decisive in the end tonight.

_____________________________
90 min: Park Ki Wook misses an absolute sitter with only the keeper to beat. Not their night.
84 min: Seo Su Jong is set up nicely inside the penalty box. He shoots low to the right but Shahril saves. Super Reds just cannot score, not even a consolation.
SAFFC 3 Super Reds 0
75 min: A rare SAFFC attack. Duric goes down and wins a free kick on the right flank. Thersdak swings it in, Nori goes up, and it’s a goal!
71 min: The Koreans have the majority of the possession and are pressing. SAFFC can’t mount any serious attacks. Surely the Koreans will pull one back? Their fans think so.
68 min: A flowing Korean move ends with Choi Dong Soo swivelling and volleying just over. Great move. Pity about the finish.
65 min: The Super Reds are swarming the SAFFC goal now. A header – saved! A shot – charged down! Another shot – off the head of a SAFFC player and it goes out for a corner.
No surprise the ref didn’t give the penalty. The penalty box lines are hardly distinguishable from height, never mind at ground level.
61 min: Moon Soon Ho beats Daniel Bennett for pace after the latter slips on the turn. Bennett takes him out. Is it a penalty? No. Referee says free kick. Super Reds fans can’t believe it.
59 min: Park Ki Wook works himself into a nice shooting position just outside the box but his shot is too direct and Shahril gathers comfortably.
54 min: The Koreans come back with a vengeance. Super Reds swamp the SAFFC goal and get the ball into a dangerous position in the penalty box but the final shot is weak and Shahril saves.
53 min: Kenji Arai scores a second goal with header for SAFFC off a corner! SAFFC are on their way. SAFFC 2 Super Reds 0

Start of second half

SAFFC 1 Super Reds 0

45 min: Nori breaks free on the left, he’s into the box, he shoots, the ball swerves away from the keeper and it’s IN! 1-0 to SAFFC. What a goal against the run of play. Half time whistle goes and the Korean Reds are shocked at the turn of events.
44 min: Kim Jae Hong swings in the free kick and it’s JUST over. Super Reds are hot.
44 min: Kenji Arai of SAFFC gets a card for taking out Choi Dong Soo. SAFFC are on the backfoot a little.
41 min: Seo Su Jong is open on the left inside the penalty box. He side foots the ball over a stranded Shahril Jantan but it hits the bar. Oh what a miss for the Koreans.
39 min: Masahiro Fukasawa finds Wilkinson just outside the box. Wilkinson turns, shoots, but it’s over the bar.
35 min: John Wilkinson attempts a shot after holding off his marker…but just wide. SAFFC are pressing.
34 min: Thersdak gets the ball laid off to him from John Wilkinson. He’s open, he shoots, he…does not score. Keeper saves!
31 min: SAFFC get a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box on the right flank. But Shaiful blows it over the bar. Way over.
25 min: Thersdak works a corner out to Shaiful Esah who has no one on him but he hits it into the night sky.
17 min: Aside from a headed attempt by Nori from a Ahmad Latiff pass, nothing much is happening…but just when I type that, Nori cuts in from the left flank and blasts an accurate shot. Kang Su Ho saves beautifully, tipping the shot over the bar.
9 min: Norikazu Murakami hits a stiff one from just outside the box but goalie Kang Su Ho saves competently.
6 min: A ball from Daniel Bennett inside the SAFFC half finds John Wilkinson open but the latter, in space and without any marker, can’t find Aleks Duric with an accurate pass. Duric punches the air in frustration. SAFFC waste an opportunity.
Maybe they should ban drums in the stadium. The cheering from both sides is horrible but you got to admire their enthusiasm.
2 min: Super Reds almost make SAFFC pay for conceding the corner. Kim Jae Hong drills the ball over the bar.
2 min: Hafiz Osman (SAFFC, #4) concedes a corner after trying to dribble his way out in the penalty box. Complacent.