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Balestier Khalsa found themselves at the wrong end of a goalfest for the second time in five days when they fell 2-5 at the hands of Home United at Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday night.
They managed to join in the scoring this time thanks to a Paul Cunningham brace, but more goals could have come for both sides, especially Home, with defensive errors happening all through the game.
Players were guilty of squandering several chances, with Frederic Mendy topping the list for Home after he had taken a penalty poorly in added time.
Mendy did manage to get himself on the scoresheet twice, though, as did Qiu Li, while Shi Jiayi rounded off the list of goalscorers for Home in spectacular style.
Qiu needed just six minutes to break the deadlock with a straightforward finish, but just before the half-hour mark, Balestier restored parity through Cunningham.
The Tigers captain rose unmarked in the penalty box to nod home a Ridhwan Osman corner to level the scores, with Fajar Sarib’s terrible positioning to blame for the concession.
Fajar, standing in for the injured Lionel Lewis, was also liable for his team’s second concession much later in the game.
Remarkably, the equaliser was not against the run of play as Home looked to have taken their minds off defensive responsibilities. Just minutes earlier, Vitor Borges had tested Fajar from close range, only to be denied by the legs of the custodian.
Five minutes after being pegged back, Mendy restored his side’s lead with a towering header from Qiu’s free kick. Then, just before the end of the first period of play, Qiu doubled his side’s lead with the best goal of the match.
A 35-yard volley completely caught everyone off guard, including Joey Sim, who was left scrambling but could only pick the ball out of the net.
Whatever chance Balestier had of recovering quickly evaporated five minutes after the restart, with Mendy collecting his second goal of the night.
The S.League top scorer last season lobbed a simple effort to the far corner over the hapless Sim, who was floundering against his old club.
With his team looking unlikely to even come close to closing the gap, Salim Moin made a remarkable decision in deciding to change his off-colour custodian for Ahmadulhaq Che Omar on the hour mark, signalling a strong intent to cut Balestier’s losses.
Ahmadulhaq however could do little better than the man he had replaced, having so nearly gifted Home a goal moments after coming on. Rushing out too soon from the penalty box, the keeper missed his clearance, allowing Qiu to round him easily.
But the perennial benchwarmer was able to recover in time to deflect the Home playmaker’s shot with his legs.
However, on 70 minutes, Ahmadulhaq was fully punished for his poor positioning, which allowed Shi to fire a thunderbolt from a tight angle down the right flank.
The improbable goal looked to have put the Tigers out for good, with Home rushing forward in smooth flowing counters. However, each time they were let off by some poor finishing.
Cunningham, who had been pushed up front to play as a striker, was able to salvage some pride with sixteen minutes left in regulation time.
A commanding header at the far post from a deep cross easily beat the poorly-placed Fajar for the second time in the match.
At the other end, Ahmadulhaq saw out the end of the match with a fine penalty save to deny Mendy his hat-trick and redeem himself, having had a primary role in conceding the opportunity in the first place.
Despite not seeing a sixth goal from his charges, Home coach Paul Lee Lim Saeng was in better mood than during his team’s previous outing, even deciding to award his team three days off, a first since his tenure according to club general manager S. Mahalingam.
“I’m so happy with our team’s performance, I want to give credit to my players tonight,” said the soft-spoken coach.
“They deserve to get their rest for three days. Although we beat this opponent and closed the gap at the top, but we didn’t, as you know, play well against our previous opponents.
“Before we started playing tonight I already told the players they needed to show a good performance, and they did. That’s why I’m so happy.”
His Balestier counterpart was meanwhile calm, though still clearly disappointed with his team’s shoddy defensive display.
“We took a different approach than when we played Home United the first time, so you can see people enjoying this kind of goal-filled exciting game,” he told sleague.com.
“We did create scoring chances. But for the second round (of the league) the approach, I told them, I want them to be more aggressive and more attacking-oriented.”
Salim let on that key playmaker K. Vikraman was left on the bench as he had suffered a fractured finger on Monday and was not yet ready to play.
He also expressed his reasons for the bold decision to substitute his keeper, warning that no player’s position in the club, much less the starting eleven, is safe.
“In the first half my two flankers were not coming up to support and provide the crossing,” he commented.
“The second half was much better with some early crossing, and we got a goal.
“I am a very bold person. I am very open. If my player is not performing I will transfer him in the transfer window, whether he’s a foreigner or a local. I am very bold.”
The former Singapore international strongly hinted at upheavals yet again when jokingly told he would do well with three Paul Cunninghams, a nod to his most hardworking player in the team.
“Not three Paul Cunninghams, if only I had ten Paul Cunninghams!” he said, without much hint of humour.
“That’s what I’m looking at. I’ll change that. Transfer window is coming!”
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