Home United FC VS Etoile FC

Both teams came into this match unbeaten in the league and were looking to deal each other its first defeat of the season. There has been much talk on the high quality of football played by Etoile FC so far this season. Etoile FC, the newly crowned League Cup Champions was in good form coming into this match. Their chances of toppling our Protectors were dealt a blow when their key player, Flavien Michelini was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Home United FC were able to recall the eight National players for this match after their National duty ended with the 1-2 loss to Jordan. Lionel Lewis, Sharil Alias, Juma'at Jantan, Isa Halim, Tengku Mushadad, Shi Jiayi and Sharil Ishak were all given starting spots, while Rosman Sulaiman had to be contented with a place on the bench.

The clash between the two football playing teams attracted many fans to turn up. Barely has the fans settled down, Etoile FC stunned the Protectors. Towering forward Frederic Mendy opened the scoring with a superb header that left Lionel Lewis stranded. The clock read barely a minute. What a pulsating start. The early goal was to set the trend for an exciting match to end 3-3.

Our Protectors were slow off the mark, perhaps due to the two weeks lull. Etoile FC on the other hand were quick off the mark and looked sharp in their play. Home United's midfield trio of Nelson, Isa and Tengku were struggling to clamp down the French engine room. On 11 minutes, a well worked move gave Sharil Ishak the opportunity to equalize, but Brice Morandini was quick to close down. On 18 minutes, Shi Jiayi warmed the palms of Morandini with a stinging shot from range. For Etoile FC, Cyril Bagnost was seeing plenty of the ball and his willingness to run at players was causing Home United certain problems. Sharil Alias resotred to the team at right back, lacked sharpness and on a few occasions got caught out. Luckily for him, Valery Heik and Shariff Abdul Samat were able to bail him out. Home United were unable to create any clear chances as too often the forwards were left isolated up front.

On 35 minutes, another defensive error allowed Mendy to broke through and faced with only Lionel to beat, he cooly cut inside, only to be brought down. Referee Abdul Malik pointed to the spot immediately and cautioned Lionel. Etoile FC captain Matthias Verschave stepped up and his initial shot was well saved by Lionel Lewis, but he was able to stab the loose ball home to double Etoile's advantage.

Two goals down, Canadian forward Sherif El-Masri was introduced for Nelson San Martin. 5 minutes later, Choi Chul Woo opened his goalscoring accounts for the season when he stooped low to head Isa Halim's cross beyond the diving reach of Morandini. 2-1! Game on as Etoile FC threatened to run away with it. Approaching half-time, it was another piece of terrible defending that allowed Etoile to restore its two goal cushion. Karim Boudjema slither his way past two Protectors to slot past Lionel.

At half-time, Head Coach Lee Lim Saeng threw caution to the wind when he threw on livewire Firdaus Idros for the defensive Tengku Mushadad. Two minutes in, Choi Chul Woo headed in another but it was disallowed for offside. Choi, was having a good match and on 54 minutes, his power header forced Morandini into another fine save. The momentum was clearly with the Protectors as shortly after Sherif headed just over from a corner.

With half an hour left, Sharil Alias was replaced by Zulfadli Zainal with Home United looking to him to provide the overlapping runs. On 65 minutes, Choi again rose highest but saw his header crash back off the post. Two minutes later, it was 3-2. Jiayi's cross into the box was flicked on by Choi onto Sherif and the Canadian spun and plundered the ball home.

Home United was on the ascendance now with a series of flowing attacks. With 10 minutes left, Zulfadli Zainal justified his introduction when he levelled the scores with a well placed shot. He came close to adding another but his shot was again well saved by Morandini. Home United hopes of a majestic comeback victory came to a halt as on 87 minutes, Valery Heik earned a second caution and was sent off.

The match finished 3-3, with the points shared between two quality teams. For the fans, it was a pulsating match as both teams played quality attacking football. The next time both these teams meet, the fans will sure to turn up in droves !!!

Line-up: Lionel Lewis, Juma'at Jantan, Sharil Alias (Zulfadli Zaina 60"), Valery Heik, Shariff Abdul Samat, Isa Halim, Nelson San Martin (Sherif El-Masri 35"), Tengku Mushadad (Firdaus Idros 46"), Shi Jiayi, Sharil Ishak, Choi Chul Woo.