HOUGANG UNITED 4
TAMPINES ROVERS 2
HGFC scorers: Nurhilmi Jasni 26′, Sim Shunhai 28′, Faozi Rossli 48′, Shameer Aziq 77′
Victory has finally arrived upon our Prime League boys, when the Cheetahs emerged victorious against Tampines at Hougang Stadium on Sunday evening.
Spectators were made to wait for an hour for the second half, due to the Lightning Warning System being set off right after the half time whistle, albeit the clear skies, which left most wondering what the alarm is for.
However, for the spectators who came down, they were made to witness a goal fest which includes a reunion of sorts between both sides. The opposing coach, Hyrizan Jufri, was the Prime League coach for Hougang last season, as well as reserve keeper Ng Jiafa and Hydhir (37) who were in the Prime League squad last season.
However, it was Ridhuan Barudin who was in goal for the Tampines Prime League team. He endured a torrid time for the first half hour, which saw two goals went past throgh him, if not more, if Shameer Aziq and Fairoz Hasan managed to convert their chances more efficiently.
Sobrie Mazelan, ploughing through the wings past the Stags defence, managed to free the ball to fellow first teamer Nurhilmi Jasni on 26 minutes. Nurhilmi wasted no chance to blast the ball past Ridhuan to take the Cheetahs their deserved lead.
Two minutes later, Nurhilmi floated a freekick above the Stags defence. Sim Shunhai raised high enough to head the ball into the goal via deflection, in which Ridhuan Barudin had no answer to it. Ridhuan then was given a favour by being substituted off, to give Ng Jiafa a feel to the Hougang pitch, in which he had been used to last season.
Tampines got a goal back on 32 minutes, courtesy of a goalmouth scramble in which Nurhilmi Jasni failed to clear. Tampines no. 33 managed to nudge the ball in to bring his team back into the game.
After an hour of awaiting the LWS to be switched off, the home side returned back to the game where they left off. And they were awarded a goal two minutes into the second period, when Fairoz Hasan managed to lay off the ball to Sobrie. The Hougang no.17 managed to float the ball towards youngster Faozi Rossli and he wasted no chance to head the ball past Ng Jiafa for a 3-1 lead.
The game wouldn’t be a completed without a Shameer Aziq’s goal . The 18-year old, currently the Prime League’s top marksman, collected a header from Al-Roshuzhairi in which he managed to dribble the ball past Ng Jiafa and slot into an empty net to give Hougang a 4-1 lead after 77 minutes. Seven goals in five games, more to come from this youngster as the season goes.
Tampines then scored a second goal in the dying minutes, courtesy of a fine bicycle kick from their no.39. The Cheetahs then held on for their first victory of the season, and all three deserved points.
HOUGANG UNITED LINEUP
Fariz Zulhilmi, Benedict Chua (c), Sim Shunhai, Azan Jaya (Aubrey Ang 42′), Nurhilmi Jasni, Al-Roshuzhairi (Lim Wee Kiong 86′), Fairoz Hasan, Hwang Kok Chang, Sobrie Mazelan, Faozi Rossli (Nicholas Lee 89′), Shameer Aziq (Garnell Syazani 89′)
