The South Korean scored one and created the other two as the Protectors overturned a first-leg deficit

Song Ui-young was unstoppable for Home in their second-leg tie against Tampines.

SINGAPORE, 19 SEP 2018 – Tampines Rovers FC were left singing the blues on Wednesday night after being knocked out of the RHB Singapore Cup by Home United FC at Our Tampines Hub.

The Stags had a one-goal advantage going into this game, but Song Ui-young turned in a superb display to help the  Protectors win 3-1 and subsequently 4-3 on aggregate in their first-round, second leg tie.

The South Korean attacker scored his 17th goal of the season to break the deadlock, before setting up Iqram Rifqi and Shahril Ishak to seal progress into the semi-finals.

Home started the brighter of both sides and probed incessantly, which arrived in the 21st minute as Shameer Aziq failed to clear M. Anumanthan’s ball and Song shrugged off Madhu Mohana to slot home.

Khairul Amri could have replied instantly for the Stags but he failed to get his header on target before going down looking for a penalty, which the referee waved away.

The second goal of the game came in the 34th minute, with Iqram doing well to win the ball from Irfan Najeeb before he finished off a one-two with Song after rounding Syazwan Buhari.

However, parity was restored just before the break came as Amri nodded in Ryutaro Megumi’s cross to level matters on aggregate again.

Megumi will then rue his 67th-minute miss, scuffing a shot that Kenji Rusydi still had to scramble off his line to tip away.

That gave the Protectors the impetus to restore their two-goal lead, with Shahril taking down Song’s lay-off before calmly picking his spot from the edge of the box in the 71st minute.

Tampines rallied late on and put Home under pressure, but they were thwarted time and again by Kenji.

In the 84th minute, Jordan Webb seemed certain to score as he diverted a Tampines corner towards goal but Kenji produced a stupendous one-handed save to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

The Home custodian would go on to deny Amirul Adli twice, first plucking the latter’s header out of the air before tipping away a fierce drive.

But Tampines’ greatest miss of the game came right at the death, when Irfan Najeeb could only hit the post despite having the goal at his mercy.

There was still time for further drama, after Song managed to find his way through on goal at the other end and was brought down by Syazwan, who saw red.

Home will now play league champions and Cup holders Albirex Niigata (S) FC in the two-legged semi-final, with the first leg to be played on 26 September at Jurong East Stadium.

WHAT THEY SAID
Tampines Head Coach Juergen Raab: “The result in the first half was correct when Home scored twice. The first 30 minutes, they controlled the game and deserved their two goals. Later, we came back in the game and it was more open.

“I had hoped to do better in the second half and it was more equal then. But in this instance, Home were better even though we had chances too. We knew we had to do something and we tried but this determination needed to come earlier.

“It was clear we had a tough match and not every player was able to bring the determination needed on the pitch. This was decisive in this match. Today, it was not enough for us to go to the next stage.”

Home Head Coach Aidil Sharin: “To be honest, both sides did a good job. Both sides played good football and you can see the high intensity from the first minute. The boys have come here for a win and the way they gave it their best efforts meant they deserved this.

“We took the lead and when that happens you will tend to defend more. We sat too deep and that’s where the opponents were allowed to take shots and try to come from behind.

“It’s not going to be easier now and it’s a lot of pressure for the boys. They are young and it’s the first time they are in this situation where they are fighting for second and a spot in the Singapore Cup final. We will recover tomorrow first and plan from there.”

Tampines: Syazwan Buhari (GK), Madhu Mohana, Amirul Adli, Ryutaro Megumi, Jordan Webb, Shameer Aziq (Zulfadhmi Suzliman 36’), Daniel Bennett (C), Irwan Shah (Hariz Farid 90’+3), Khairul Amri, Irfan Najeeb, Hafiz Sujad (Taufik Suparno 73’).
Unused subs: Fahrudin Mustafic, Faizal Raffi, Ryhan Stewart, Shah Shahiran.

Home:Kenji Rusydi (GK), Shakir Hamzah, M.Anumanthan, Abdil Qaiyyim, Song Uiyoung (C), Faritz Hameed, Iqram Rifqi (Amy Recha 46’), Faizal Roslan, Shahril Ishak (Izzdin Shafiq 82’), Hafiz Nor (Fazli Ayob 79’), Isaka Cernak.
Unused subs: Eko Pradana Putra (GK), Aqhari Abdullah, Arshad Shamim, Christopher Van Huizen.