Kelantan FA (in red) celebrating their first win in the Malaysia Super League 2012 after the final whistle. (Photo: Aundry Gan/SSC)
It was a long awaited return to the
Malaysia domestic league for the local football fans and the dream came true
yesterday at the Jalan Besar Stadium. However, not all dreams are perfect as the
defending Malaysia Super League (MSL) champions Kelantan stole the game with a
late game penalty, beating the LIONSXII 2-1.
Sea of Red
The 7,500 seater stadium was packed full of
Singapore football fans donning the red apparels, eagerly waiting for the match
to begin.
Entertainers drumming up support for the LionsXII with an energetic
routine before kick-off. (Photo: Aundry Gan/SSC)
As the referee
blew the whistle, it not only signalled the start of the game but also brought
back the ‘Kallang Wave’ which swept through the stadium.
Moments later,
the LIONSXII raised a roar as they gain possession of the ball from the team’s
12th man – the Singapore football fans.
Explosive Start
The LIONSXII
burst into life and tormented Kelantan’s goal, launching crosses and firing
shots in the early stages. Sole striker, Agu Casmir was a constant thorn to
Kelantan and proved to be a handful with his physical strength and blistering
pace.
The Predator – Agu Casmir (in white) was key in setting up the LIONSXII
offense. (Photo: Aundry Gan/SSC)
The
Red Warriors (Kelantan) tried hard to get back into the game, but were not
allowed near the goal with Lions’ Baihakki Khaizan and Safuwan Baharudin
reigning supreme in the air and challenges.
A new page in History
On
the 33rd minute, a superb free-kick delivery by Shahdan was met by
the unmarked Baihakki, who then directed his header to the far corner to record
the first goal for Singapore in the MSL, since 1994.
The
magnificent play sent the Singapore fans wild, raising the roof of the stadium
with thunderous applause and roaring cheers, celebrating the start of a new era
in the MSL.
The Lions Den's 'ROAR' was revived when LionsXII’s Baihakki Khaizan (in
white No. 5) opened the scoring for LionsXII and celebrated it with the crowd. (Photo: Aundry Gan/SSC)
Caught Off-Guard
As the LionsXII venture deeper into Kelantan’s territory in search for a
second goal, they were dealt a surprising blow in the dying minutes of the
first half when Kelantan striker Norshahruk Idlan Talaha volleyed home the
equalizer from close range.
Kelantan FA (in red) huddling up to celebrate their equalizer, while
LionsXII’s Baihakki Khaizan could only look on in disappointment. (Photo: Aundry Gan/SSC)
Change of Tide
The
Red Warriors came into the second half looking to be a different team while the
ferocious intensity that was present in the opening period was absent for the
LionsXII.
The
only shot the LionsXII could create in the second half time was a tame effort
by Hariss Harun from way out that landed comfortably in the hands of Kelantan
custodian Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.
Twenty
minutes into the second period, Kelantan’s new signing, Lebanese Mohammed
Ghaddar showed glimpses of his immense talent when he skipped past four bodies
from midfield before unleashing a deadly shot that was pushed away by Izwan.
Penalty or not to be
Minutes
later, Ghaddar latched onto a through ball, leaving him one-on-one with the
LionsXII custodian. With the ball being too far and out of reach, Ghaddar
tapped the ball forward and fell upon the slightest contact with the goalkeeper
earning a penalty, much to the fury of the home supporters and LionsXII players.
The Lebanese
striker stepped forward to dispatch the spot-kick with ease and sent Izwan the
wrong direction, giving the MSL reigning champions the lead.
Kelantan’s Ghaddar (in red) executes an excellent penalty shot to
silence the home crowd. (Photo: Aundry Gan/SSC)
The
host pushed forward desperately in search of an equalizer but was denied by the
strong defensive barricade of the Red Warriors.
LIONSXII Not Over Yet
In
the post match press conference, LionsXII coach V.Sundramoothy refused to blame
the referee for the defeat and gave the assurance that his team will soldier
on.
LionsXII’s coach, V. Sundramoorthy was disappointed with the loss but
assured that the points will come very soon.(Photo: Aundry Gan/SSC)
“The
MSL season is a marathon and this is only the first of many games to come. Of
course I am disappointed as I felt we deserved at least a draw but the team
have to take things in their stride and learn from this experience. In the
previous Malaysia cup campaigns, we had foreigners who made up the spine of the
team. However, today the team is fully Singaporean and these boys are young.
The team will take time to gel and soon the results will come,” said
Sundramoorthy.
Malek
Awab, a well-known veteran in the local football scene, weighed in with his thoughts, "You win some and you lose some. It’s a
learning experience for this team as this is just the first game, and this one match is not the decider.”
The
LionsXII's next match will be against Kedah FA at the Darul Aman Stadium in
Alor Star on Saturday.