The visitors came back twice, including a last-gasp equaliser, to thwart the Protectors in a 3-3 draw.

Jonathan Behe (right) struck twice to help Warriors FC salvage a point.

SINGAPORE, 5 MAY 2018 – Jonathan Behe struck four minutes into injury time to earn Warriors FC a 3-3 draw against Home United FC in a thrilling Great Eastern-Hyundai Singapore Premier League (SPL) Uniformed Derby at Bishan Stadium on Saturday evening.

With none of the last 24 head-to-head encounters ending goal-less, goals were guaranteed in this fixture and the fans were treated to one after just two minutes on the clock.

Capitalising on Shakir Hamzah’s poor clearance, Ho Wai Loon went on a rampaging run through the middle before poking the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Rudy Khairullah to give Warriors a shock lead.

It took Home 13 minutes to restore parity though as Song Ui-young’s speculative 35-yard free-kick beat the wall and evaded the reach of Warriors custodian Fashah Iskandar to nestle in the bottom left corner.

Warriors almost retook the lead just two minutes later, with Behe’s shot from just outside the box beating Rudy, but not the left post.

The intensity of the game slowed down as the first half went on, with the score remaining all square at the break.

Sirina Camara’s introduction at the start of the second half gave Home more impetus in the attacking third and he played an integral role in Home’s second goal 18 minutes in.

From the left flank, the Frenchman delivered a peach of a free-kick into the area for Faizal Roslan to crash a header beyond the despairing reach of Fashah.

However the Warriors came roaring back and managed to level the scores at 2-2 in the 82nd minute.

A superb outswinging corner by Ho picked out Behe, who directed a smart header across the face of goal and beyond Rudy.

Home retook the lead just three minutes later though. After Emmeric Ong was adjudged to have fouled Shahril Ishak in the box, Song stepped up to fire in his fourth league goal from the spot.

That looked to have earned Home all three points, but Warriors had one last trick to pull off with virtually the last kick of the game.

A superb cross from Ho into the area found Behe, who peeled away from his marker to nod into the bottom left corner and send Head Coach Mirko Grabovac into wild celebrations on the sidelines.

Home will host Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta in the first leg of the AFC Cup Zonal semi-finals next Tuesday, while Warriors will continue their bid for a first SPL win when they host champions Albirex Niigata FC (S) next Sunday.

WHAT THEY SAID
Home Head Coach Aidil Sharin: “We knew they have a good striker in Behe, who can finish not only with his foot but also with his head. We spoke before the game about this and I’m disappointed that the two goals he scored were free headers. This is the second time in two games which we threw away two points; this is where the boys need to learn that nothing is over until the final whistle. The goals we conceded today are unacceptable.

“Today I rest(ed) a few players and I take responsibility for the result. We have a tough schedule ahead and I have to use other players. If not, I will have more players in the medical room than on the field. Today, 18-year-old Arshad (Shamim) played well and lasted the whole game; hopefully more young players step in for us (in future).”

Warriors Head Coach Mirko Grabovac: “I knew Home is a good team, but their minds are on the AFC Cup and they want to make (achieve) results there. We must be happy with this result, but my players must start learning and be more confident so that we can close the gap with the other teams.

“Now we have a few injured players and I hope they come back for (the game against) Albirex. If we have all our players fit, I’m sure we can pose problems for any team.”

Home: Rudy Khairullah (GK), Aqhari Abdullah, Faizal Roslan, Shakir Hamzah, Fazli Ayob, Arshad Shamim, M. Anumanthan, Song Uiyoung, Iqram Rifqi (Sirina Camara 46’), Hafiz Nor (Christopher Van Huizen 77’), Shahril Ishak (C) (Amiruldin Asraf 88’).
Unused subs: Kenji Rusydi (GK), Abdil Qaiyyim, Faritz Hameed, Izzdin Shafiq.

Warriors: Fashah Iskandar (GK), Shamil Sharif (Nur Luqman 71’), Delwinder Singh (Firdaus Kasman 46’), Hafiz Sulaiman, Tajeli Salamat,Poh Yi Feng (C), Ho Wai Loon, Emmeric Ong, Ammirul Emmran (Suria Prakash 63’), Sahil Suhaimi, Jonathan Behe.
Unused subs: Mukundan Maran (GK), Fadhil Noh, Zuhaili Mazli, Naasiruddin Wahab.

Get your tickets for ALL Singapore Premier League games at http://www.fas.org.sg/tickets/!