Football: LionsXII bring back the roar with victory over KL

By Stefanus Ian/Red Sports

lionsxii vs kuala lumpur

Singapore fans react with joy after seeing the own goal by KL go into the net for the first goal of the night for the LionsXII. (Photo 1 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)

Jalan Besar Stadium, Tuesday, January 17, 2012 — In a game that would have been perfect for the neutrals, the Singapore LionsXII were made to sweat towards the end for their maiden victory in the Malaysian Super League (MSL). Three goals, one penalty and one red card, the 2-1 victory over Kuala Lumpur was filled with action and drama. The spectators were always on the edge of their seats as the action swung from end to end.

When Shahdan Sulaiman scored the winning goal, the stadium erupted in jubilation. The celebration lasted long after the referee blew to restart the game. Once the traditional stadium wave began, the Jalan Besar crowd embraced the celebration like a long lost son. The wave amazingly lasted for almost five minutes as the crowd danced and lost themselves in the moment.

This was exactly how football should be experienced. Nothing beats watching football at the stadium with 7,000 other supporters. With no replay on the pitch, every moment in itself is precious. Blink and you might miss a goal.

From the anguish of a shot hitting the post, the frustration of a glaring miss to the elation of a winning goal, these experiences are amplified when you are watching it live. In a stadium, you are not just a supporter; you are part of something bigger.

When our participation in the Malaysian League ended after the 1994 season, the sparse international matches against our regional rivals could never fill the emptiness left behind after pulling out of the Malaysia Cup. With the S.League struggling to maintain the same level of interest, the crowd numbers began to dip. It did not help that the English Premier League also became much more accessible. Soon, experiences of a fully packed stadium were few and far between.

But the time has come for us to begin a new chapter.

With the first victory out of the way, it is time for the LionsXII to climb up the table. Without a doubt the next few matches will truly test our boys. Sabah may have finished in tenth last season but Terengganu and our arch-rivals Selangor finished in the top three last season.

LionsXII head coach Sundramoorthy was under no illusion saying, “It will not be easy.”

This is the opportunity to show our boys that we are not just a bunch of fair weather fans. Patience was wearing thin going into this game. Credit to the players, they have rammed the words of doubters down their throats and battled for their first win.

Now it is up to the supporters to come up with the goods and fill up Jalan Besar to the brim and rock the stadium to its foundations.

How would you rate the match between LionsXII and Kuala Lumpur?