Written by: Shawn Lim

Ken Ilso’s seventh goal of the season helped Home United come from behind to defeat Tampines Rovers 2-1 at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night and preserve the Protectors’ unbeaten run.

Fazrul Nawaz fired the Stags ahead before the designated visitors restored parity almost immediately through Azhar Sairudin as both sides went into the break on level terms.

Ilso then scored the winning goal for the Protectors late in the second-half to ensure that Home moved up to third place in the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League table with 18 points, eight points behind leaders Albirex Niigata (S).

The victory for Home was also the first time since 2014 that they had won three matches in a row and it left Tampines still searching for their first league win in May.

The Stags began the match quietly, but scored with their first real chance of the game in the 22nd minute when Fazrul timed his run well to meet Ismadi Mukhtar’s cross and hooked the ball over onrushing Home custodian Hyrulnizam Juma’at from six-yards out for his second goal of the season.

Home’s response was a spirited one and the visitors were level just two minutes later when Azhar headed home Juma’at Jantan’s cross from close-range.

Chances were scarce for the rest of the first-half as both sides struggled to retain possession, as well as string together significant attacking moves.

Jermaine Pennant then almost made an immediate impact when he came on for Yasir Hanapi after the restart, as the Englishman’s shot from Hafiz Sujad’s cut-back curled narrowly wide of the post in the 57th minute.

Having weathered the storm, the Protectors began to press again and took the lead in the 70th minute when Song Uiyoung played Ilso through on goal and the Dane displayed perfect composure to place the ball past Tampines custodian Izwan Mahbud and into the bottom corner of the net.

The was a final chance for the Stags to pull level a minute from time when Billy Mehmet laid the ball off for Sufian Anuar outside the box, but the substitute blasted the ball high and over the crossbar.

Tampines Rovers coach V.Sundramoorthy: “I think we did well to get the lead, then we went to sleep and that was the turning point. If we had defended the lead better, we would have been 1-0 up and it would have probably been a different game.

“We started well in the second half and the only thing is that we didn’t create enough chances. Possession doesn’t mean anything if you don’t convert and Home punished us for that.”

Home United coach Philippe Aw: “It was a battling display from the team and we really wanted this win. We want to keep the momentum going and keep winning.

“I don’t think Hyrulnizam had a save to make after the goal tonight..it was a good defensive performance. We have to keep going like this and I think it gives good confidence to the boys.”

Tampines Rovers: Izwan Mahbud (GK), Ismadi Mukhtar (Jordan Webb 73′), Mustafic Fahrudin (C), Noh Rahman, Irwan Shah, Shakir Hamzah, Hafiz Sujad (Sufian Anuar 83′), Yasir Hanapi (Jermaine Pennant 46′), Izzdin Shafiq, Fazrul Nawaz, Billy Mehmet

Home United: Hyrulnizam Juma’at (GK), Juma’at Jantan (C), Abdil Qaiyyim, Shahrin Saberin, Sirina Camara, Shamil Sharif (Redzwan Atan 82′), Song Uiyoung, Aqhari Abdullah (Syahiran Miswan 72′), Azhar Sairudin, Faris Ramli, Ken Ilso