Gombak United win three on the trot

Ong Jiing Yih
info@sleague.com

Gombak United moved to joint top in the Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League standings after a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash of Albirex Niigata [S].

The Bulls overwhelmed the Swans with goals from Ojimi Gabriel Obatola who netted twice – a penalty and a thumping shot – as Ruhaizad Ismail put the result beyond doubt with a classy third late on.

While Darren Stewart and his charges attempt to iron out minor errors ahead of the eagerly-anticipated clash with Home United at the same Jalan Besar venue next Friday, there are growing concerns over Albirex.

Not only did they fail to find the net for the second successive match, their hopes of restoring parity evaporated as glorious opportunities in front of goal were squandered.

Hence, the onerous task of notching their first points of the season for their next two home fixtures against Woodlands Wellington and Home United seems greater than ever.

For the game, Albirex led by head coach Naoki Naruo might have hoped for some respite, after bringing back influential centrehalf Takatoshi Uchida and installed Yoshitaka Komori as skipper.

However, Gombak made the stronger start by keeping the Japanese on the ropes for much of the first half.

The pressure told as early as in the seventh minute after Uchida brought down a rampant Emmanuel Emuejeraye yards outside the box, conceding a freekick in the process.

Obatola was next to try and ask questions of the visiting backline, as he rode through several challenges seeking to carve out an opening.

With him being focal point of attack for Gombak, Ruhaizad was afforded space and time to fashion the first chance, although he flashed wide from 20 yards.

Undeterred, Akira Takase tried to lead the charge for his side, floating a freekick inches wide of Fadhil Salim's right post.

But his tenacity was somehow not matched by the defence, who at one stage needed midfielder and creative outlet Taisuke Akiyoshi to hack away a testing Emuejeraye cross.

The inevitable first goal arrived on 23 minutes, after Albirex fail to clear their lines and were subsequently dealt a huge blow.

Following a loose ball Ryota Kobayashi tussled with Emuejeraye and appeared to lay both his arms on the Nigerian.

Match referee Muhd Adzhar was not best pleased and immediately signalled for a penalty, much to the displeasure of the enraged Albirex players.

Nevertheless, up stepped Obatola who drew first blood for Gombak by sending Yoshito Matsushita the wrong way from the spot.

Matsushita was nearly caught out again four minutes on as his backline apparently fell asleep, allowing Agu Casmir to stretch and reach for a searching long punt from Bah Mamadou.

He fired straight towards goal, only for Matsushita to thwart him.

Action then switched from one end to the other – as Albirex began to hold their forte keeping Gombak at bay in the process, they thought they had netted the equaliser.

Unfortunately, after Shunsuke Sunaga attempted to head back Uchida's lay-on towards goal, the ball looped over the leaping Ridhwan Jamaludin, then seemed to gleam the post before bouncing onto the line.

Fadhil was eventually able to grab the ball with his safe hands and launched it upfield, keeping his goal intact in the process.

If that was close, Albirex went a step further but failed miserably two minutes before the break.

With Sevki Sha'ban struggling to clear having been distracted by an opponent, Keisuke Ogawa skimmed through towards goal.

Facing the goal with only Fadhil to beat, he fluffed his shot agonisingly wide and wasted a great chance.

That did not dampen the Swans' spirits, with Kenji Adachihara keen to put things right, as turned, twisted and feigned his way towards goal moments after the restart.

Even as that failed to come to fruition, substitute Atsushi Shimono kept up the pressure on the Bulls with his presence in the box, forcing Mamadou and Fadhil to scramble the loose ball clear.

However, Gombak regained initiative once gain towards the final twenty minutes as Ridhwan looked to have knifed his way into Albirex territory.

The resultant through ball fell kindly for Casmir only for the national forward to slot wide of the target, but the Bulls not to be denied for long.

The game was effectively over as a contest once Gombak went on the break following another scuffed attempt by Ogawa on 72 minutes.

Goran Subura led the counter and fed Emeujeraye, who in turn slipped the marauding Ruhaizad down the right.

Once he reached the Albirex box, he had two onrushing teammates in the form of Casmir and Obatola.

The former kindly sidestepped for the latter as he netted a stupendously taken goal.

Cue emphatic celebrations as Gombak's magical no.20 lapped up the applause from the stands.

Any lingering hopes of an Albirex revival were well and truly vanquished ten minutes from time, after a catalogue of errors in defence presented the result-confirming third goal onto Gombak's plate.

As Uchida dithered waiting for Matsushita to take his goal kick, the goalkeeper somehow made a hash of his clearance, leaving Ken Matsumoto to clean up the mess.

However, Matsumoto only succeeded in diverting the ball straight into Subura's path, who gleefully squared across to the lurking Ruhaizad.

The winger capped his moment by sending his stunner screaming into goal, way past a bewildered Matsushita who stayed rooted to the spot.

If even Ruhaizad can score against you with his left foot, then you're bound to be left ashen-faced.

That was perhaps the only tangible expression of the face of Albirex tactician Naruo, as he spoke about his side's approach for the game.

“We brought in an extra body in defence as we sought to combat the threat from Gombak's attacking midfielder [Ridhwan]. In addition, we planned to go into the break scoreless then took risks after the restart.

“As much as we were dismayed with the first goal, a penalty, we gave chase and piled towards goal thereafter. But the second goal affected the lads psychologically.”

Meanwhile, tactician Darren Stewart was pleased, though he pointed out a few areas where Gombak can improve on, even as his side remain the only team with successive clean sheets after three rounds.

“It was hard work, and as much as it being a less than fantastic performance, the lads worked tremendously and were relentless in the first 15-20 minutes,” was the Australian's candid assessment.

“The result might have suggested otherwise but our play wasn't the greatest. Albirex tried to pinch a goal themselves but were caught short once we counter attacked.

“There's still a bit of work to do. I believe we have the quality to play better on the ball.”