News • May 31, 2016

Brave Young Lions Downed In Extra Time By Ceres

Share

Written by: Ryan Low

Philippines invitee Ceres La Salle progressed into the 2016 RHB Singapore Cup quarter-finals after overcoming the Garena Young Lions 3-1 in extra time at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday night.

Ceres took the lead courtesy of Stephan Schrock’s first-half goal, but the Young Lions forced the game into 120 minutes after Joshua Pereira scored a late equaliser.

The visitors eventually prevailed though, with skipper Kim Sang Min and Schrock scoring to break the Young Lions’ hearts in front of 1,241 fans.

After missing a couple of gilt-edged chances, former Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt man Schrock made amends by breaking the deadlock in the 44th minute.

Latching on to a superb through ball by Manuel Ott, the 29-year-old rounded Young Lions custodian Zharfan Rohaizad before slotting gleefully into an empty net.

Ceres carried where they left off after the break and dominated most of the second half, but failed to put their chances away

Inevitably the United Football League (UFL) outfit paid the price for their own wastefulness as Young Lions dug deep to find an equaliser on 87 minutes.

Fareez Farhan’s corner had caused mayhem in the box with two players firing onto the crossbar, before Pereira forced home the ball from two yards out to send the home fans in jubilation.

However, they were unable to keep up their efforts in extra time as Ceres scored two in quick succession to pull 3-1 ahead.

On the 99th minute, Kim flicked home a superb header from close range after Patrick Reichelt had headed on Martin Steuble’s free kick.

Then in the 101st minute, Schrock outjumped Zharfan to nod home Steuble’s lofted ball into the area for his second goal of the night.

That killed off any hopes of a Young Lions comeback as Ceres duly sealed a two-legged quarter-final tie with Brunei DPMM.

Ceres La Salle head coach Ali Bernard: “I was expecting a hard game against the Young Lions. I’ve watched clips of them; although they lost many games, they were fighting against some S.League giants. Those were not one-sided games.

“We had some chances in the second half, but the ball wasn’t going in. It took just one mistake for them to level the game; the boys were tired but I told them to keep pushing. It wasn’t easy because I feel the Young Lions can still run for another 120 minutes, but in the end experience won it for us.”

Garena Young Lions head coach Patrick Hesse: “This was perhaps our best performance of the season. You can see we’re making progress. I’m very happy because the players tried to play good football today.

“Also two months ago, you can see the boys are going down with cramp after 60 to 70 minutes. But today they managed to see through the full 120 minutes. It’s just that we’re not doing enough in terms of our technique and first touch.

“This game is also a good preparation for the boys who are going to participate in the Nations Cup. I hope we continue in this way and keep improving.”

Ceres La Salle: Louie Casas (GK), Carlos Martinez, Jason Sabio (Marwin Angeles 82’), Kim Sang Min (C), Son Yong Chan, Bienvenido Morejon, Manuel Ott (Paul Mulders 69’), Martin Steuble, Jeffrey Christiaens (Jalsor Soriano 73’), Stephan Schrock, Patrick Reichelt

Garena Young Lions: Zharfan Rohaizad (GK), Rusyaidi Salime, Amirul Adli, Shannon Stephen, Zakir Samsudin, Joshua Bernard Pereira, Firdaus Kasman (C), Muhaimin Suhaimi (Taufiq Muqminin 85’), Hami Syahin (Adam Swandi 73’), Fareez Farhan, Hazim Faiz (Zulfadhmi Suzliman 77’)