Written by: Shawn Lim

The search for a win in the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League continues for both Warriors FC and Balestier Khalsa after they fought to a 1-1 draw at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Friday night.

The stalemate meant that Warriors have now failed to win in seven games, while the Tigers have not won a game in the league since beating the Garena Young Lions back in April.

The hosts began the match quietly, but their first attack led to the opening goal in the 18th minute when Zulfadli Zainal did brilliantly to break free down the left and hit the byline before playing a cross into the box for Jonathan Behe to head home.

Hafiz Rahim had an opportunity to double Warriors’ lead in the 28th minute when he skipped past Emir Lotinac’s challenge at the edge of the box, but fired his shot into the arms of Tigers custodian Zaiful Nizam.

Warriors then paid the price for bad defending a minute later when Ismail Yunos made a mess of his clearance and allowed Miroslav Kristic to calmly dispatched his shot past Warriors custodian Yazid Yasin to restore parity for the visitors.

Fazli Jaffar wasted a wonderful chance to help the hosts take the lead just before the interval when he took control of a loose ball, but shot straight at Zaiful instead.

Warriors emerged from the break re-focused and dangerous as they searched for a second goal
and almost succeeded when Behe was played through on goal by Hafsyar Farkhan, but the striker sent a tame effort into the arms of Zaiful.

The woodwork subsequently denied Warriors from taking the lead five minutes after the hour mark when Nikola Rak’s fierce piledriver from 20-yards out came off the underside of the crossbar after Zaiful had managed to get a hand to the ball.

Zaiful was then required to pull off a point-blank save to deny Kento Fukuda in stoppage time and ensure that the Tigers ended their three-game losing streak.

Warriors FC interim coach Razif Onn: “I’m very upset and I told the players about that.

“We didn’t play well in the first half. We came back in the second half and created chances. Doing that is one thing but to score a goal is another thing.

“I can see that some players are not working hard. When they lose possession, they just walk and turn away.”

 

Balestier Khalsa coach Marko Kraljevic: “A draw is a good start for us. Small steps and we start climbing up. Everyone knows we are going through some difficult times.

“We defended well tonight, but I think (in the) attacking third, we could have done better. A few times we could have had chances, but the killer pass was missing.”

Warriors FC: Yazid Yasin (GK), Zulfadli Zainal (C), Ismail Yunos, Kento Fukuda, Hafiz Osman, Poh Yi Feng, Fazli Jaffar (Hafiz Nor 64′), Hafsyar Farkhan (Ridhuan Muhamad 68′), Hafiz Rahim, Nikola Rak, Jonathan Behe

Balestier Khalsa: Zaiful Nizam (GK) (C), Fadli Kamis, Nurullah Hussein, Sheikh Abdul Hadi, Ho Wai Loon, Fazli Ayob, Zulkiffli Hassim (Jamil Ali 63′), Shah Hirul (Danial Tan Farhan 56′), Emir Lotinac, Fadhil Noh, Miroslav Kristic (Smajovic Sadin 63′)