Written by: Phoon Jia Hui

Ferinando Pahabol cancelled out Yasir Hanapi’s first-half opener as Home United and Persipura Jayapura shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in an AFC Cup Group E encounter at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Protectors were eager to bounce back after a losing start to their continental campaign where they were defeated 1-0 by New Radiant while the visitors emerged victorious against Churchill Brothers.

Home were a joy to watch especially in the first-half with their fluid style of football as Yasir put his side in front to cap off a well-worked team move.

Racing onto a Lee Kwan Woo through pass, he proceeded to expertly lift the ball over a stranded Yoo Jae Hoon to hand his team the lead.

However, Pahabol equalised with a deflected shot to deny the 2013 RHB Singapore Cup champions victory.

Home started the game on the back foot but slowly settled down and relied on counter-attacks to breach the opponents’ backline.

One such move in the 19th minute nearly yielded a goal but Qiu Li just failed to get a touch to Lee’s low cross after Yasir had done brilliantly to pick out his run.

Home defender Ismail Yunos then put in a brilliant block to thwart Persipura forward Foday Boakai Eddie two minutes after Yasir’s opener.

Fazli Ayob spurned a gilt-edged opportunity on 32 minutes when he failed to keep his shot on target before he had the ball in the net moments later which was ruled out for offside.

Meanwhile, Jacksen Tiago’s side had a chance to pull level before the break when skipper Boaz Solossa burst past Precious Emuejeraye but could only flash his effort wide.

Chasing the game, Persipura responded strongly in the second-half and tested Home goalkeeper Shahril Jantan on several occasions but the former Singapore international repelled everything that came his way.

Home also had their chances as both Qiu and Izzdin should have scored when clean through on goal but they could only shoot straight at Yoo.

The misses would eventually go on to haunt Lee Lim Saeng’s side as Ferinando punished some slack defending from Home to fire the equaliser past a helpless Shahril.

With Churchill Brothers’ 3-0 win over New Radiant in the group’s other match, this result leaves Home propping the group on one point while Persipura top the group on four points.