Lucky escape for 'rubbish' Geylang
Eagles coach Hasrin says his team only played well in the last 10 minutes
HOME UNITED 1
(Shahrin Saberin 50)
GEYLANG INT'L 2
(Sahil Suhaimi 88, Gabriel Quak 90+2)
It was a match between two teams that had started the season with high hopes, but desperately needed a win to get out of their slumps.
For much of last night's Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League clash at Bishan Stadium, it looked like Home United were going to do just that, leading through Shahrin Saberin's 50th-minute opener and looking in complete control.
Then, in three dramatic minutes right at the death, Sahil Suhaimi equalised for Geylang International before Gabriel Quak struck in injury-time to complete a 2-1 comeback victory.
It was a lucky escape for the Eagles, and coach Hasrin Jailani was the first to admit that.
"I don't think we played well at all," said the former Singapore international, whose side had lost two successive games. The first half was rubbish and even at the start of the second half we weren't in control.
"Only in the last 10 minutes did the players realise that a win was very, very important.
"We can consider ourselves very lucky but, at the end of the day, it's a morale-boosting win for us, especially with two games against Albirex Niigata in the RHB Singapore Cup coming up."
The Eagles certainly rode their luck, with Home creating the better chances, coming close after just two minutes when Ken Ilso's first-timer drew a flying save from Syazwan Buhari. Ilso threatened again in the 26th minute but Syazwan kept out the Dane's 20-metre free-kick.
Geylang spurned a golden opportunity just before half-time when Faritz Hameed broke free and rounded Zulfairuuz Rudy, only to fire wide from an acute angle.
Home finally scored five minutes after the break when Khairul Nizam nodded a Zulfahmi Arifin corner into the path of Shahrin, who stabbed the ball home.
They could have doubled their advantage when Nizam raced through on goal and curled a low shot off the post, before Syazwan brilliantly parried a fierce drive from Ambroise Begue in the 88th minute.
That proved fatal as Geylang responded immediately with the equaliser via a looping Sahil header. Two minutes into added time, Quak sealed the win after latching on to a knock-down by Shariff Samat.
"In the end, it was down to our failure to convert our dominance and the failure to deal with two long balls," said Home coach Philippe Aw,.
TNP MAN OF THE MATCH: Syazwan Buhari (Geylang)
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