Prior to the game, many felt that this was a three-horse race, with BG Tampines and Geylang our closest rivals. This game was important from a points perspective – a win for Geylang would see our lead over them cut to only 2 points, although we would still have 2 games in hand.
Now, it’s 8 points with 2 games in hand, and you have to think that gives us a bit of comfort at the top of the table, with probably only BG Tampines remaining to give us a threat. On that front too, there was good news, with Hougang brilliantly beating them 4-2 to extend our lead at the top of the table.
But as the football cliche goes, we only need to focus on ourselves and make sure we continue picking up points. So let’s dive right into some of my post-match thoughts.
Shakir Hamzah – Lucky Boy
Let’s start with something that has been bugging me for a while. How was Shakir Hamzah’s attempted tackle not seen as a booking, or even a foul? Some would argue that with the way he lunged in, and how out of control he was, that he might even be red-carded. He didn’t make contact with Hami, but that’s because Hami hurdled the challenge brilliantly. Not sure which tackle I am referring to? Look at the still image below –
And then head on down to Youtube to watch the tackle for yourself because still images shouldn’t be used to referee games.
Shakir takes a heavy touch, and then lunges in out of control – he’s late, and his studs are showing. Hami has to take quick evasive action and he did so brilliantly, but I think the intent of the challenge must be that the referee does something about it. If Hami had tried to shield the ball there, or if he was slow to hurdle the challenge, we could be looking at a broken leg.
Shakir is one of my favourite players, given that he was a real fighter whenever I watched him play for Home United. His spirit, skill and energy always lit up the left flank, but he does have an aggressive streak and I think he’s lucky that VAR wasn’t available earlier in his career. He’s a bit like Rooney in my opinion – in that it’s this aggressive streak that allows him to be such a good player, one you want on your team. However, occasionally, it does boil over and harms his own team, and in this case, potentially an opponent.
I have alot of respect for Taqi’s refereeing, but for him to look at this challenge and not do anything about it, I think he himself will probably admit he got it wrong. Let’s hope the referees police the game properly so we don’t see more of these.
Debut for Diogo Costa
Eyebrows were raised when the lineups were released. Diogo Costa at leftback, straight into the starting 11.
Little is known about him, especially because very irritatingly, he shares the exact same name as the Porto captain – so when you search for him on Youtube, you gotta go through tons of irrelevant videos. But what a way to introduce yourself to the Sailors fans.
He was brave on the ball, the pace on his pass was good, and he shuttled between attack and defence seamlessly. He also showed that he has a great cross in his arsenal.
He was booked for a tough challenge in the first half, but when Geylang’s players and bench tried to intimidate him, he just put his hands up and walked away. I have to admit I feared a little for him after that, because he had so long to play while still on a yellow card. One mistimed challenge, or an overzealous referee, and he’d be gone.
In the end, Coach Ranko protected him and took him off in the second half because of his yellow card, but by then he had already done enough to impress me. I think he will be a valuable addition to our squad. I also spoke with Coach Ranko after the game and he shared that Diogo went right into the starting 11 because he had impressed in training.
When I caught up with Coach Luka Lalic after the game, he told me that Diogo has much much more to show the Sailors fans. We can’t wait.
Shawal the Postman
We are so used to seeing the net bulge after Shawal takes a shot. But on Sunday night, he hit a unique hat-trick. He hit the post three times. The game could have been so much more comfortable for us had he taken his chances. Besides the post-hits, there was also one other gilt-edged chance which he put wide of the post.
The finishing was so uncharacteristic of him, that when he did score later, Maxime was first to congratulate him, but also playfully slapped the back of his head, as if trying to wake him up.
Shawal has been the difference-maker for us so many times since he joined us, so we’re gonna let this stinker of a game for him pass. At least he was in the right positions to score! This goal takes him to 15 goals for the season. Coupled with 11 assists, he is on 26 goal contributions for the season, only just behind Maxime’s 30.
Also worth noting that Lennart Thy was the one who hooked the ball across the face of goal for Shawal to hit the post, and also the one who flicked the ball on superbly for Shawal to outpace Rio Sakuma and slot into the net past a stranded Rudy Khairullah. Our attack is starting to find these combinations and it is really great to see.
Hami Syahin’s Superb Last-Ditch Tackle
In the second half, with the score still at 1-1, Tomoyuki Doi strode forward and slipped a nice through pass for Ryoya Taniguchi. Ryoya was offside, but noone knew for sure. He was clean through on goal, and looked sure to score, or at least test Izwan.
However, from this position, Hami kept chasing, and in the end, managed to put in a superb challenge. It reminded me alot of Mamat, also coincidentally, against Geylang. Or maybe even Hafiz Nor, recently against Buriram.
Ryoya even did well to get his body in between Hami and the ball, so that a tackle might result in a foul and get the Sailors into deep trouble.
The balls on Hami though, to make a last-ditch tackle right there and then, with the score at 1-1, knowing he might give away a penalty if he got it wrong. Once Ryoya lifted his leg to shoot, Hami slid in and tackled him. Just a brilliant challenge. Watch it for yourself here.
Anu’s Renaissance
Another game, another tidy display in the middle of the park for Anu. Since Rui’s injury, Anu has stepped up and played well in midfield. Much-needed, especially as we try to navigate our remaining fixtures in the season in three competitions.
Hopefully for us, Rui’s injury isn’t a bad one, but I think we can count ourselves lucky that we have the depth to cover for his absence.
Anu even almost scored in the first half after a flowing move ended with a cutback to him, before he tried to place a shot into the bottom corner. Alas, it was well-saved by his former teammate, Rudy Khairullah.
Conclusion
I think the match showed us that our Sailors are really firing on all cylinders now. Our experience gained in the ACL2, plus the players gelling together after half a season, has contributed to this.
Pre-match, all the talk was about Tomoyuki Doi, and rightly so. He’s a striker bang on form, and Geylang had shown that they can really trouble us – both matches this season against them ended in draws prior to Sunday. However, in reality, even when Bezecourt scored a cracking goal in the first half, there was never any doubt in my mind that our Sailors would come back.
The chances kept coming for us, and on the defensive end, Tomoyuki Doi was starved of any meaningful service. He was reduced to taking speculative long shots. It wasn’t until the end of the game when Geylang got a little desperate and started chucking players forward, that we came under some pressure. But aside from that, nothing really troubled our defence.
This is a sign of the team’s improvement. They are beginning to gel and Geylang should have been on the end of a hiding, if not for Shawal having an off-day in front of goal.
There’s now a chance for the team to rest and regroup, before action resumes in February, where our boys will take on 7 games in 20 days, and taking in 2 away trips as well. A dead rubber against Kaya FC Ilo-Ilo, and a mouthwatering round-of-16 clash against Muangthong United.
This will be a pivotal month for us in the hunt for trophies – let’s use the squad wisely, keep everyone fit, and go for glory.
COME ON YOU BOYS IN BLUE.
(oh and thanks for reading the articles, wishing everyone who celebrates a happy lunar new year)
Written by Eddy Hirono
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