The Warriors bowed out of the 2011 RHB Singapore Cup at the Quarter-Final stage in the cruellest way possible, going down 4-5 on penalties after twice coming from a goal down to level at 2-2 at the end of full-time and then unable to break the deadlock during extra-time.
Former Albirex Niigata (Singapore) winger, Taisuke Akiyoshi and Croatian midfielder, Ivan Jerkovic, had outstanding games for SAFFC, the latter netting two brilliant goals, ultimately to no avail.
With a defensive lapse allowing Albirex to go to the lead in the twelfth minute, it needed an exquisite free-kick from Jerkovic to level the scores in the 27th.
Things did not look too good when Shotaro Ihata restored the Albirex lead in the 53rd, but a wonderful volley at the far post by Jerkovic in the 76th minute ensured that the game would move into extra-time.
Sadly, there was no addition to the score in the added 30 minutes and the teams moved to penalties.
Albirex were successful with their first four, while the Warriors could only net three of their own at that stage, though Fazrul Nawaz did add a fourth before it went to ‘sudden-death’ after the fifth kicks had both been taken.
Finally after Albirex had missed their fifth attempt, to leave it locked at four apiece, their sixth taker found the net, leaving Noh Rahman the unenviable task of keeping the Warriors in the hunt.
His effort struck the upright and the keeper then scrambled the ball away to earn his side a semi-final spot, 5-4 on penalties.
But SAFFC coach Richard Bok was far from happy about that last kick.
“I believe the ball may have crossed the line,” he said, as he cut a dejected figure in the tunnel following the game.
“I’ll certainly want to watch the video to see if the ball went over the line.
“I can’t fault my players, though, for their performance other than to say we created more than enough chances to win the game and that cost us the win.
“We conceded two goals due to lapses of concentration and poor communication, but overall I was happy with my team’s effort.
“When it gets down to penalties it really becomes a ‘lottery’. Albirex played well so I must congratulate them on their win,” he concluded.
The two goals from Ivan Jerkovic were top class.
His first, from a free kick just outside the penalty area, was struck with precision to beat Albirex keeper Yoshito Matsushita who tried to get a hand on the ball as it found the top left corner of the net, even though the White Swans’ keeper had spent some time organising his wall of defenders in front of him and chosen his own best position to minimise the risk.
The second goal, in open play, came from a lovely deep cross from the left by Akiyoshi that Jerkovic met with the sweetest of volleys to slam the ball into the smallest of gaps at the far post.
Albirex created many chances too and Warriors’ captain and keeper, Shahril Jantan, was kept very busy, saving what looked like certain goals more than once.
In the 85th Shahril made two point-blank saves with his feet, firstly from Ihata and then from Inui.
It had been danger man Inui who had done the most damage, setting up both of his team’s goals, a through pass for the first by Bruno Castanheira and the second a diagonal cross for Ihata to steer home.
For the record the successful penalty takers for the Warriors were Mislav Karoglan, Jerkovic, Akiyoshi and Fazrul, with Daniel Bennett and Noh Rahman’s attempts both saved by Matsushita.
Line-up: Shahril Jantan (C); Hafiz Osman (Razaleigh Khalik 82), Bah Mamadou, Daniel Bennett, Noh Rahman; Mustaqim Mansur (Fazrul Nawaz 112), Goran Subara, Rhysh Roshan Rai (Indra Sahdan 90), Taisuke Akiyoshi; Ivan Jerkovic; Mislav Karoglan
Subs not used: RGK Hyrulnizam Juma’at, , Shaiful Esah , Erwan Gunawan, Syaiful Iskandar
Cautions: Mislav Karoglan 19, Rhysh Roshan Rai 20, Goran Subara 23, Noh Rahman 38, Bah Mamadou 89
Referee: W. Ravisanthiran
Attendance: 1,252
