Written by: Khalis Rifhan

A resolute performance by Warriors FC aided them in nicking a point off Tanjong Pagar United to move to second spot in the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League table.

Sebastian Etiemble gave the Jaguars the lead in the first-half but it was cancelled out by Miroslav Pejic three minutes before the end for his seventh goal of the campaign.

While Warriors’ coach Alex Weaver acknowledged his side started the match on the wrong foot, he was pleased to see his charges clawing their way back in the second half and eventually grabbing the equaliser late on.

“We switched off for the set-play  and we deserved that. We worked on it during training and it was disappointing to concede that,” commented Weaver on Etiemble’s goal in the 13th minute.

“We came more into the game after the first 10-15 minutes and enjoyed (more possession) for large period of the first half towards the end.

“We talked at half-time about being patient and our quality and fitness will show in the end and it did. We got a very good goal and Pejic has done it before,” added the Warriors tactician.

While Weaver’s counterpart Patrick Vallee was delighted with his players’ effort, he felt that they should have snatched all three points.

“I am happy about the team’s performance. It is a very good game. Sure, I am disappointed about the results, I think we deserved more but this is football,” said Vallee.

“I like the spirit and winning mentality in my team tonight. They worked hard and Warriors is a strong team too. They are one of the strongest team in Singapore.”

“Sebastian is the man of the match. We cannot look only at the last chances, as a coach you must see his performance in the game. Sebastian scored a goal and in the middle, he gave more problems to Warriors than Pejic or Velez to my defence,” explained Vallee of his goal-scorer.

Despite trailing by a goal from the first-half, the Warriors came out stronger after the interval and Weaver attributed this to his team’s determination and qualities: “We thoroughly deserved to get that goal because our build up was good, character is excellence and it is a shame we could not get all three points.”

“We got quality players that are doing well. Nico (Nicholas Velez) is working so hard today and in training too. It will be a matter of time before it clicks for him,” added Weaver when he was asked about Warriors over-reliance on Pejic for goals.