Etoile FC VS Home United FC

Home United FC's poor season continued with a 0-1 defeat to French side Etoile FC. A single goal by Frederic Mendy settled the match and condemned our Protectors to their fourth league defeat of the season. The match was played with high intensity and saw physical battles all over the pitch.

Head Coach Lee Lim Saeng once again sprung a surprise by playing Korean forward Choi Chul Woo in central defence, alongside Valery Heik. Both were kept busy, trying to keep the lanky Mendy at bay. They did that successfully for 73 minutes but could not stop Mendy from scoring in the 74th minute, when a good move saw substitute Anthony Moulin lay the ball for Frederic Mendy to slot past Ridzuan Fatah. With Choi deployed at the back, our Protectors lacked the cutting edge in attack. Captain Sharil Ishak struggled as lone forward and was often left isolated in the first half. Etoile FC on the other hand had good opportunities to take the lead but was let down by poor finishing.

In the second half, our Protectors came out of their shell and Sharil Ishak had the half's best chance to open the scoring but he could not beat Etoile's custodian. With the match seemingly set for a goalless draw, substitute Anthony Moulin took just two minutes to make his presence felt with a dynamic run behind Home United's defence and set up Mendy for the winner. Mendy could havw doubled the lead towards the end of the match but a determined Valery Heik just got back in time to deny him.

With this latest defeat, our Protectors remains in mid-table and are fast falling away from the front pack. Our next match will be on the 8th of June, when we entertain strugglers Woodlands Wellington FC at the Clementi Stadium. With the June transfer window opening, our Protectors will parade two new signings for this up-coming match. Let's hope they will be the spark that will ignite the Dragon's flame !!!

Line-up: Ridzuan Fatah, Rosman Sulaiman, Juma'at Jantan, Valery Heik, Naufal Omar, Isa Halim,, Shi Jiayi, Shahdan Sulaiman, Rosman Sulaiman, Sharil Ishak, Choi Chul Woo,