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Stags ride their experience to victory over Dalian
Elwyn Lee
info@sleague.com
The focus of experience came through for Tampines Rovers as they over-turned a first half deficit to secure a 2-1 win at home to Dalian Shide Siwu.
Lu Peng had put the Chinese side in front after 37 minutes, a deserved lead for Dalian who had put in a fine shift in the first half.
But Thai winger Santi Chaiyaphuak equalised for Tampines in the 70th minute, before Qiu Li struck the winner for the Stags eight minutes later.
Tampines assistant coach Syed Faruk attributed his team’s come-back to head coach Vorawan Chitavanich’s half-time team-talk and the self-belief of veteran heads.
“It was the half-time talk by Vorawan that brought self-belief to the boys. We were playing for pride coming soon after the loss to SAFFC and the earlier draw against Balestier Khalsa,” he said.
“Aside from the awareness that we could not afford to lose this one, we had a very good game in the second half and I attribute this to our application of our training ground techniques and set-plays we have been undergoing lately, something that was unfortunately not used in a poor first half show.”
It was evident from the start that the Stags were on the attack as they lined up 3-4-3 while Dalian played to a 4-4-2 formation. While Dalian started off seemingly more intent to soak up the pressure and then build on the counter attack, they grew in confidence as Tampines endured a lacklustre first half.
After 12 minutes, Dalian’s Chi Jinyu served a long ball to compatriot Sun Wenlong near the edge of the area, only for Tampines keeper Rezal Hassan snuff out the danger.
Truth be told, Dalian were clearly the better side in the first half as they constantly threatened the Stags backline marshaled by Zulkarnaen Zainal, Yusiskandar Yusop and Shariff Samat.
But keeper Rezal was in his element as he quickly and effectively cut out a number of dangerous crosses.
In the 24th minute Sun did beat the veteran keeper with an exquisite chip, only to see his effort bounce off the crossbar.
Dalian’s reward came in the 37th minute, after an error by Tampines’ Thai international Sutee Suksomkit.
He sent his pass straight to Dalian’s Sun, who charged through the middle of the park and had his initial effort saved by Rezal. But the keeper could do nothing to stop Dalian skipper Lu Peng from driving the rebound in for 1-0.
The home side then finally started to threaten, as Dalian keeper Wang Guoming batted away a corner with three Tampines players waiting to pounce.
Dalian wasted a chance to make it 2-0 just before half-time, as Sun drove clear on the right with Zulkarnaen in his wake, only to slam his shot way above Rezal’s goal. The keeper then smothered Zhao Honglue’s snapshot seconds before the break.
Tampines’ revival came soon after the second half began.
Coach Vorawan injected pace into his side’s attack with the introduction of Aliff Shafaein for defender Yusiskandar.
The pocket dynamo Aliff crossed for Ridhuan Muhamad in the 53rd minute, only for Dalian keeper Wang to deny the winger.
Aliff himself came close four minutes later, as his shot from range rose above Wang’s crossbar.
Then Ridhuan’s pass to striker Qiu looked a dead certainty to be converted, but Wang pulled off a fine save to block the Chinese forward’s header.
The final 20 minutes saw the Stags getting their much needed reprieve. Sutee redeemed himself with an assist for his fellow Thai Santi Chayaphuak, clipping a measured pass for Santi to convert past Wang from inside the six yard box.
Eight minutes later, Qiu Li drove through the centre and sent a cracking shot from just inside the box flying past Wang, to set up celebrations in the Tampines terraces.
Dalian coach Pei Yongjiu was disappointed with the loss after a good showing in the first half.
“We were good in the first half. The team is getting used to the environment and the S.League system. Because the game here is played fast, our emphasis is on ball control and possession,” said Pei.
“The team went down in the second half because we were defending too deep,” he added before bemoaning his lack of playing resources to call upon. “I only have 13 fit players, four are injured and five are not yet meeting the minimum age requirement to play (18 years).”
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