Loss at Jurong West compounds Geylang misery

Source

Noor Farhan
info@sleague.com

Geylang United saw their wretched start to the season continue at Jurong West Stadium on Tuesday evening, after they were defeated 0-2 by hosts Gombak United.

It was the eastern club’s third consecutive defeat and their fourth in five games, leaving them third from bottom in the league table.

Goals in the second half by Nigerian defender Obadin Aikhena and Korean midfielder Park Kang Jin sealed victory for Gombak, as Geylang endured with the injuries carried by some of their players who soldiered on in the game.

One of those in question was former Singapore international Masrezwan Masturi, who was ineffective up front against the Bulls as he was nursing a swollen knee.

Masrezwan and others among the walking wounded were joined at the end of the evening by Vasile Ghindaru, who took a knock and had to retreat towards a defensive position late on after starting the game in midfield.

The match started in cagey fashion, with fewer than five shots on target for both sides in the first half.

Gombak’s Chang Jo Yoon, returning from injury, threatened early with a low shot five minutes in going just wide of Yazid Yasin’s right-hand post.

Apart from that, it was a difficult beginning to the game, as both sides appeared content with testing each other out in the first ten minutes.

Gombak generally made good progress down the right, earning several free kicks through Ruhaizad Ismail, who had a good game overall.

Ruhaizad, Chang and Park combined well in midfield with several deft passes, as the hosts always looked likelier to score the opener.

Even Tengku Mushadad got in on the act when he provided an attacking threat with a free kick on 18 minutes, only for it to elude the lanky Aikhena at the far post and glide into the safe hands of Eagles custodian Yazid.

Nonetheless, the Bulls were making good headway on the counterattack against a defensive-minded Geylang, especially with Ruhaizad’s direct runs in midfield causing problems for the opposing rearguard.

Geylang forward Hafiz Rahim did, however, break free minutes before half-time and have a crack at goal from range, but Bulls goalkeeper Zakariah Nerani, who turned 25 on the evening, was alert enough to tip the ball over the bar.

Having survived that scare, Gombak came out of their dressing room at half-time as confidently as they had entered it, and they went ahead six minutes into the second half with a goal that opened up the game.

Aikhena showed quick reaction to pounce onto a defensive lapse by the men in blue during a corner, as he let loose a low shot past Yazid to put the score at 1-0 to Gombak.

The Bulls sought to twist the knife into the Eagles as they looked for more goals, Ruhaizad coming off for a fresh pair of legs in the form of Zulkiffli Hassim.

Staring yet another defeat in the face, Geylang abandoned their defensive approach, with midfielder Shah Hirul coming off for the more attack-minded Rizawan Abdullah in just after the hour mark.

But Mike Wong’s substitution did not work out as his charges were caught out by a Bulls counterattack on 70 minutes, as Park tore up the Eagles defence with a run through the middle and sent a dipping shot over Yazid for Gombak’s second goal.

Geylang then started to lose the ball needlessly in the attacking third, and Adrian Dhanaraj let his frustration show with a push on Kwon Jin Sung on 75 minutes, which yielded a yellow card for the defender.

It could have been worse had a late move involving Kwon and Chang been finished off by Zulkiffli three minutes from the end, but the Eagles’ inability to respond was clear, even after four minutes of stoppage time, as they found themselves in the bottom three upon hearing the final whistle.

Despite the defeat, Wong felt his charges had the potential to produce a better result in this match.

“In the first half, we did alright,” said the 45-year-old.

“We went down with the second goal, and that was when we started chasing the game.

“There was no such thing as us trying to be defensive, I don’t think there was a need to be. We were keeping it tight behind all the while until the first goal went in.

“We (also) have to look at how we defend now, as we were not happy with some of the individual defending. The players have got to believe in themselves and their own teammates and we’ve got to move on,” he added.

“It’s not going to be a bad season obviously for Geylang. We’ve still got a long way to go, and hopefully all the injuries clear up before Hougang (United) and Albirex (Niigata (Singapore)).”

Gombak coach Darren Stewart was pleased with his team’s overall play in the victory against Geylang, although he conceded there was room for improvement in terms of finishing.

“In the first half we were a bit sloppy in the attacking third, which was no one’s fault,” said the Australian.

“It was just that a few balls went astray, and I actually thought we did very well. If we had any problems at all in the first half, it was our final ball, which is actually a good headache to have.”

Commenting on his substitution of captain Jaslee Hatta in the second half, he revealed that the fullback had been carrying an injury.

“He’s got a back problem, which he’s had for a while,” he noted.

“(It is) a niggling problem for him there, and he was honest enough to put his hand up and inform me about it. We could have coasted through at 2-0 up in the final ten minutes, but he was struggling a little and asked to come off.”