The moment after Mendy's (left) header that turned into the first goal of the night
The much-anticipated "Test" match against the traditional powerhouses for on-form Etoile got underway at the Clementi Stadium.
The French got off to a dream start as early as in the first minute when the towering Frederic Mendy finished off from close-range.
Etoile doubled their tally in the 37th minute when Protectors' keeper Lionel Lewis tripped an on-surging Mendy (pictured above) in the box to allow Matthias Verschave to score on the rebound after Lewis denied the spot-kick on the first attempt.
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Karim Boudjema (middle) overpowered his markers
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Relief for the home team they managed to cut the deficit in the 43rd minute with a Choi Chul Woo's effort, but it wasn't before the French restored their two-goal advantage in the 45th minute by Karim Boudjema.
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A dejected Etoile's custodian Brice Morandini sat on the ground
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If it was to say Etoile dominated the first half, surely those at the ground would say the Protectors came back strongly in the second half to draw level through Sherif El-Masri in the 68th minute and Zulfadli Zainal Abidin's 81st equalizer to make it 3-3.
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(L-R) Etoile's coach Patrick Vallee and CEO Johan Gouttefangeas |
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Home United coach Lee Lim Saeng (second from right)
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A gusty fightback indeed for Home United, but deep inside their heart, they should know very well that things wouldn't have been so tough should they not have left off their guard so early. The same goes for Etoile in the second half.
The moment after Mendy's (left) header that turned into the first goal of the night
Etoile doubled their tally in the 37th minute when Protectors' keeper Lionel Lewis tripped an on-surging Mendy (pictured above) in the box to allow Matthias Verschave to score on the rebound after Lewis denied the spot-kick on the first attempt.
Sourced around for some reaction to the game and saw this "balanced" view from a fan, whom I quoted -
ReplyDelete"Somebody pls tell Etoile that Home United is not Geylang or Woodlands, so why did they field Brice Morandini instead of Yohan Lacroix? I know they want to cycle their keepers, but considering Morandini only had one game against Woodlands last Thur...serves them right!
Maybe they thot Home United is a pushover, thats why. But the biggest donkey of all is Neison San Martin being subbed at 38min!! Either there is something wrong with San Martin or there is something seriously wrong with Paul Lee's head."
P.S: Paul Lee aka Home Utd's coach Lee Lim Saeng
Maybe becos they believed Brice Morandini is better than Yohan Lacroix.
ReplyDeleteYohan Lacroix can be quite shaky. He is those type of gks who no one know which side will turn up in a match.