Written By: Kenneth Ho

Harimau Muda battled to a 1-0 victory over Home United to ensure they walked away with a win in their last home game of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League 2015 season.

Akhir Bahari’s 13th-minute goal proved to be the winner in a tight affair, and it kept the Young Tigers three points ahead of their traditional rivals Courts Young Lions.

Following on from their 1-1 draw with the Young Lions. Harimau adopted the same defensive tactic of sitting deep and playing on the break.

Home were obviously frustrated by the strategy as they failed to muster a single shot at goal in the first half, while Harimau’s counter-attacking play yielded some success.

Harimau took 13 minutes to open the scoring, with Akhir pouncing onto a loose ball in the box after his shot was blocked by Abdil Qaiyyim.. Without a moment of hesitation, the winger duly bulged the back of the net to put his side in front.

Kumaahran Sathasivam was next to have a go in the 36th minute but he skewed his shot wide after doing well to beat his marker with his pace.

Five minutes later, he did slightly better after testing Shahril Jantan twice but the goalkeeper did well to parry his initial drive before pushing away the follow-up shot.

After the break, Home appeared more settled but they just could not make their chances count.

Kamel Ramdani headed over from close range in the 50th minute before rifling in a 30-yard free-kick ten minutes later which stung Ilham Amirullah’s gloves.

Juma’at Jantan was also unfortunate to see his shot deflected just over the bar as the Protectors continued their pursuit for the equaliser.

Substitute Azhar Sairudin came close too in the 72nd minute but his free-kick on the edge of the box was tipped over by the inspirational Ilham.

Home’s task was then further compounded in the 76th minute, as they went a man down after Ang Zhi Wei injured himself.

Having already used up all three substitutes, the Protectors were left to play ten men.

Facing a stout Harimau defence, the ten-man Home were simply unable to get the equaliser and time soon ran out to condemn them to their second straight defeat.

Harimau Muda: Ilham Amirullah (GK), Wan Ahmad Zafran (Ashmawi Yakin 46′), Amirul Hisyam, Adam Nor, Kumaahran Sathasivam (Arif Anwar 89′), Syawal Nordin, Akhir Bahari, Nazirul Hashim (C), Annas Rahmat (Azrul Nizam Muhammad 83′), Kenny Pallraj, Syafwan Syahlan

Home United: Shahril Jantan (GK), Song Uiyong, Abdil Qaiyyim, Imran Sahib (Azhar Sairudin 69′), Yasir Hanapi (C), Sirina Camara, Fazli Ayob (Juma’at Jantan 46′), Ambroise Begue, Ang Zhi Wei, Kamel Ramdani, Shahrin Saberin (Noh Rahman 55′)