BoLASEPaKO.com - A Blog on Singapore Football

Erwan Gunawan (second from right) scored the winner The picture above is a snapshot of a historical moment for Singapore football. This was the moment when substitute striker Erwan Gunawan (second blue jersey player from the right) headed home the winning goal to give SAFFC and Singapore their first-ever victory in the continental elite club competition over China's Henan Jianye. John Wilkinson (center) started his first game for the Warriors  The Warriors' defense were not being stressed as compared to the last 2 ACL home outings. As compared to their last two outing at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Henan's cautious and possession type of football complemented the style of the Singapore representative, as both Suwon Samsung and Gamba Osaka duly punished the Warriors with their much superior swift mobility tactics. Daniel Bennett's strike in the 65th minute gave SAFFC the lead. Erwan Gunawan came on as a replacement for Indra Sahdan Probably because of that "ton

(Pictured above) SAFFC' are hoping for better showing after hitting bad patches lately. (Media Information from Football Association of Singapore ) SINGAPORE, 9 April 2010: S.League Champions Singapore Armed Forces FC and Henan Jianye from China meet in the 2010 AFC Champions League Group G match which will be played on Tuesday, 13 April at the Jalan Besar stadium. Kick off is at 7.30pm. Match : 2010 AFC Champions League Group G – Singapore Armed Forces FC vs Henan Jianye Date : 13th April 2010 Time : 7.30pm Venue : Jalan Besar Stadium Ticketing Information Pre-sale Date : 2nd March 2010 until 12th April 2010 Time/Venue : (1) 10am to 5pm / Choa Chu Kang Stadium, 2nd Level, 4D/TOTO Booth (2) 5pm to 9pm / 2nd Level SAFFC Clubhouse Category ( Grandstand/ Gallery) Adult - S$10 /S$8 Child - S$10 /S$2 Senior Citizen - S$10 /S$2 Sale on match day: Date: 13th April 2010, for match vs Henan Jianye (CHN) Time/Venue: 6pm / Jalan Besar Stadium, North and South Entrance For more informatio

(In collaboration with Temasek Review Sports , the following match report was written by MJ,who was reporting on behalf of the online portal.) By MJ sports@temasekreview.com Recently-retired Singapore skipper Indra Sahdan Daud (left) tussling for better position with Gamba's defender Sota Nakazawa. AFC Champions League Match Day 3 saw 2008 winners Gamba Osaka FC come away with their first win of the season following a hard earned 4-2 victory over SAFFC at the Jalan Besar Stadium. SAFFC twice equalised but eventually the match was settled by a hat-trick from 22-year-old striker Shoki Hirai. Nakazawa in action again as he fought for the ball with SAFFC's Japanese winger Akiyoshi Taisuke (in foreground) SAFFC started the match with high energy and were almost rewarded immediately in the 3rd minute when Erwan Gunawan placed a free header straight at the Gamba keeper. Gamba Dominance That miss proved to be costly as Gamba recovered from the early scare to score in

The SAFFC's foreign legion being sandwiched by the Suwon's defence in a dead-ball situation SHORT SCRIBE Unlike last year, when he wouldn't want to risk his key players because of "the weather and the field”, the Korean legend Cha Bum-kun must have decided that pride means everything as he brought along his strongest squad despite those "damaging factors" looming over his head. After all, his Bluewings did not enjoy a good start to both their domestic and continental venture. (Pictured above) SAFFC's winger Ahmad Latiff(left) up against Yang Sangming Evergreen custodian Lee Woon Jae was virtually untested throughout the game (any idea what was that written in Korean?). But nonetheless, the Korean did what according to the script by defeated the resilient Warriors 2-0. The sucker punch came at the stroke of half time when Brazilian import Juninho's free-kick broke the deadlock. The Warriors did what they planned for the game when the match

(Off from TV) Jordanians in jubilation after beating us to head to the proper FIRST HALF SHORT SCRIBE Unfortunate to have conceded an early goal to the Jordanians, but except for some usual scary moments, the boys hold themselves well against their hosts in front of a hostile crowds. The already depleted Lions suffered another early blow when skipper Noh Rahman was replaced by Rosman Sulaiman due to an injury. SECOND HALF SHORT SCRIBE We started well in the second half while replacement skipper Noh Alam Shah levelled the scores almost immediately after the game resumed, but the joy was short-lived when the hosts took back the lead and evetually the winner in the 58th minute via a header off a corner. AFTERTHOUGHTS Fair to say we were on the disadvantage prior to the lead up to this showdown, with several key players ruled out due to various reasons? Not forget to mention to the alleged less-than-ideal hospitality by the hosts that might have hinder the preparation of the boys. I'm

That was what SAFFC's skipper-cum-custodian Shahril Jantan (picture above in foreground) said to this blogger before the start of the penalty-shootout that would determined who will join the elites of Asian club sides in the lucrative Asian Champions League . And the 'keeper, who missed the last weekend's game against Sriwijaya due to suspension, got his wish at the end of the day after the S.League champions progressed to the group stages of the tournament following a nail-biting finish that saw hot favourites - Thai League champions Muangthong United knocked out of the competition. SHORT SCRIBE To be honest, teams from Thailand are never easy opponents to play with, as they are by far technically more sounded and skilful, thus it's always a pleasure to watch them play. And true enough that right from the start of the kick-off, the hosts were being stretched to their limit as the "Twin Qilins" utilized both the flanks and their pacey football to wreck

SHORT SCRIBE Indeed, SAFFC shown why they are dead serious about making to the lucrative Asian Champions League (ACL) group stages, by bulldozed the woes-besieged Sriwijaya 3-0 at the Jalan Besar Stadium. While there are some gelling works to be done in the Warriors camp, what their opponents in the S.League can foresee is that if the defending champions can get their act fast, then it's not hard to see why they are still THE team to beat. THE FANS Some Sriwijaya supporters (pictured above) spotted at the stand, whom I believe (in personal opinion) are local-based Indonesian students. Unfortunately, these fans are relatively small in numbers and were being silenced for large part of the game after their team were overrun by their hosts. While the SAFFC supporters (pictured above) were in their usual boisterous self with their drumming and singing routine, without the aid from the rest. MATCH PICTURES Sriwijaya's custodian Feri Rotin Sulu (pictured above) sunk to the ground he