If games were won based on possesion count then this would have been a landslide victory for the side from Myanmar as Okkthar dominated the proceedings right from the get go.

Backed by a strong and vociferous crowd, Okkthar United played a high tempo passing game and were keen to make the breakthrough first as they set up camp in Hougang’s half and laid siege on Fadhil Salim’s goal.

However, Okkthar failed to capitalise on their possession and chances created as it was Hougang who made the initial breakthrough in the 26^th minute as Okkthar’s captain Edesio Junior guided Jordan Webb’s cross from the right into the back of his own net.

The Hougang fans’ voices were finally heard as the goal knocked the stuffing’s out of Okkthar and their fans.

Nonetheless, the Myanmar supporters found their voices minutes later as they continued their staunch support for their countrymen.

Parity was restored in the 40^th minute, albeit only for a few seconds as the linesmen raised his flag for offside, much to the dismay of Okkthar.

Five minutes later, Okkthar had probably their best chance of the game. Receiving a clever ball from Lappe Lappe, Okkthar winger Hla Tun Aung left his markers for dead to send in a peach of a cross for fellow winger Aung Moe.

Only a few feet from goal and with the whole of the Cheetah’s defences in sixes and sevens, Aung Moe scooped his shot well over the crossbar.

Though it was a morale sapping miss, Okkthar United started the second half in similar fashion to the first, setting up camp in Hougang’s half as they laid siege on Fadhil Salim’s goal yet again.

Toiling tirelessly up front, lone striker Jean Roger Lappe Lappe could have had his name on the score sheet in the 57^th minute if he had reacted quicker to another dangerous cross from Aung Moe.

With most of the game played in Hougang’s half, an Okkthar equaliser seemed imminent but alas, it was the same story as the first half as Okkthar failed to capitalise on their chances and were punished by Hougang in due course.

Opting for a short corner in the 71^st minute, Hougang winger Noor Ali brought the Hougang fans to their feet as he applied the finishing touch to a quick one two between himself and midfield enforcer Carlos Delgado.

Receiving the return ball at the edge of the penalty area, Noor Ali let fly a left-footed curler into the top right hand corner of Pierre Djanal’s goal, it was a goal worthy to win any match.

However, the goal failed to kill the enthusiasm and douse the burning passion in the Okkthar players as they went straight at Hougang’s goal again, causing a few goalmouth scrambles and shot that was cleared off the line.

Credit must be given to captain Shariff Samat for marshalling his defence superbly in the final quarter of the game as Hougang repelled the waves of attacks from Okkthar.

With Okkthar throwing everyone forward, their defence was caught with their pants down as enigmatic winger Jordan Webb applied the finishing touch to some neat passing between fellow winger Noor Ali and himself.

Despite the scoreboard reading 3-0 to the Cheetahs, Hougang head coach Aide Iskandar is not taking anything for granted in the second leg, “Okkthar troubled us in the first half and we cannot take them lightly.”

It was a different story for his counterpart P.N. Sivaji who bemoaned his team’s lack of composure in front of the goal, “We created many chances but lacked the composure to finish them and composure is not something you can buy off the shelf.”

However, he is buoyed by his team’s performance as it exceeded his expectations, “I believe in performance and I thought we performed well.”

With nothing to lose in the second leg, fans could be treated to an even more exciting attacking display by the team from Myanmar.