Cheetahs barren spell continues

vsGIFC2report

HOUGANG UNITED 0

GEYLANG INTERNATIONAL 1

Yasir Hanapi 72′

Jozef Kaplan sent off 82′

Its been 270 minutes since Nurhilmi Jasni put the ball into the net for the Cheetahs against Harimau Muda, and the unwanted spell continues as the Cheetahs once again dominated possession in a game, and failed to find the net once again.

The Eagles were often in the back foot in the game, scrambling in sixes and sevens on every Hougang attack, but able to capitalise on mistakes. Yasir Hanapi’s goal on 72 minutes was one example.

A lost pass in the middle of the pitch was dispossessed by Jozef Kaplan who sauntered towards the Hougang penalty box. He found Yasir Hanapi at the right wing. Yasir coolly slotted the ball past an onrushing Fadhil Salim for the winning goal of the game.

The Cheetahs started the game without their influential winger Fazli Jaffar, and struggled without his effective runs and crosses early in the first half. However, they did have several chances in the first half.

Diallo’s freekick in the third minute stated their intent of winning the game early, however, it went above the crossbar. However, Nurhilmi Jasni had the best chance of the half after a fine cross from Basit Hamid hit a first time volley from the winger, however, it was blocked by Norihiro Kawakami.

The second half saw a more vicious Cheetahs’ side wanting to hide their disappointments in their last two games. The best chance however, fell to Mamadou Diallo in the 62nd minute, after a sublime pass from Jerome Baker found the Guinean in the box with only Takuma Ito to beat, however it hit the custodian’s foot and went out for a corner.

Substitute Liam Shotton also almost hit the target with his flick header, but it went high over the crossbar.

Those misses proved to be fatal as Yasser Hanapi managed to hit on the counter, led by Jozef Kaplan, in which he was able to score the only goal of the game.

There was more late drama as Jozef Kaplan was sent off in the 82nd minute, after an off the ball incident with Mamadou Diallo, and was adjudged to blatantly kicked the shin of the Guinean.

The Cheetahs remained 10th in the table, with the visit of the league leaders Tampines coming up next Thursday.

HOUGANG UNITED

Fadhil Salim, Igor Cerina, Syaqir Sulaiman, Faizal Amir (Fazly Hasan 65′), Lau Meng Meng, Thomas Beattie, Azhar Sairudin (Sobrie Mazelan 80′), Basit Hamid (Liam Shotton 45′), Nurhilmi Jasni, Mamadou Diallo, Jerome Baker

GEYLANG INTERNATIONAL

Takuma Ito, Delwinder Singh (Shotaro Ihata 45′), Norihiro Kawakami, Khayrulhayat Jumat, Khairulnizam Jumahat, Basil Teo, Jalal, Taufiq Ghani (Ashrul Shafiq 86′), Yasser Hanapi, Jozef Kaplan, Wahyudi Wahid.

Bookmark the permalink.