SINGAPORE CRICKET CLUB 3
Scored on 39′, 60′ 78′
HOUGANG UNITED 5
Mamadou Diallo 17′, 20′; Azhar Sairudin 19; Jerome Baker 42′; Liam Shotton 86′
The Cheetahs ended the pre season on a high note, when they met an-all international Singapore Cricket Club Team (SCC) 5-3 at the Padang on Sunday evening.
Hougang, who’ve started the game with a 4-3-3 formation, started off strongly and were almost 3-0 up within the first ten minutes. The semi-pro team could not keep up with the trident attack of Baker, Diallo and Eziakor; who have constantly breach through the defence many times. Sobrie Mazelan too had plenty of chances earlier but could not convert the goal easily.
The Cheetahs took the lead on 17 minutes, when Sobrie Mazelan shot was palmed to the path of onrushing Diallo. A goalmouth scramble ensued and Diallo managed to bundle the ball over the net.
Two minutes later, Hougang were awarded a freekick right outside the box. Azhar Sairudin curled the ball into the bottom corner for a two goal lead.
Hougang then took a 3-0 lead a minute later after good work from Jeremy Chiang and Robert Eziakor on the right hand side. Eziakor then laid the ball off to Diallo, who thundered it into the top right hand corner of the net.
However, the Cheetahs went a gear down, and the game went into SCC’s hands. A goal six minutes before the break and two goals from defensive mistakes in the second half clawed back the game to 4-3, and it seems that an upset was on the cards, particularly after the same SCC team punished Woodlands Wellington in Woodlands a week ago.
However, some fine work from Fairoz Hassan, found an unmarked Jerome Baker, who curled it into the net with four minutes remaining.
Coach Alex was seen praising his players the entire match and also during the post match briefing. All this on the preparation and to motivate his players when the season kicks off on Feb 20, against the Young Lions.
