Danish forward Ken Ilso was the Home United hero on Friday night as he struck a late winner against arch rivals Warriors FC in the 2-1 victory in front of 2,308 fans at Jalan Besar Stadium.

The Warriors thought they had done enough to earn a draw after Jonathan Behe had cancelled out Song Uiyoung's early opener until Ilso popped up four minutes from time to help his team turn one point into three.

Philippe Aw's men settled into the game the better of the two sides and created the first opportunity of the night on 10 minutes. But Ilso could only drag his shot wide of the post after being picked out by Aqhari Abdullah's lofted ball.

They duly broke the deadlock 10 minutes later by putting the finishing touch to a lethal counter-attacking move. Aqhari won the ball off Syaqir Sulaiman inside his own half before setting up Azhar. The latter then released Ilso, who galloped down the left channel before squaring it across goal for Song to prod home from a yard out.

Having gone into the driving seat, the Protectors were content to sit back and invite the pressure from the Warriors. However, Jorg Steinebrunner's charges could not find much success in the attacking third, with Behe left isolated upfront.

Things could have gone from bad from worse for them eight minutes into the second half when Aqhari stole the ball off Rak before going through on goal. But the 25-year-old was denied by some superb last-ditch defending from Poh Yi Feng and Kento Fukuda.

Having survived the let-off, the nine-time champions found the equaliser three minutes after the hour mark. A defensive mix-up between Home left-back Sirina Camara and goalkeeper Hyrulnizam Juma'at led to Hafiz Nor seizing possession before French forward Behe gleefully accepted the gift by slamming home into an empty net from six yards out.

With the game starting to open up, both coaches threw on their respective impact substitutes in the form of Faris Ramli and Ridhuan Muhammad in the final 20 minutes.

However, it was a starter who decided the game with just four minutes left to play in regulation time. Beginning the move with a surging run before spreading it out wide to Camara, Ilso duly finished it off by steering the latter's low cross beyond a stranded Yazid Yasin in the Warriors goal from just inside the six-yard box.

The result helped Home stem a two-match winless streak, with Aw visibly relieved.

"It's been like this the whole season -- we gave away an easy goal and it was difficult for the players' morale when that happens," explained the 39-year-old coach. "Communication's very important in that instance and we failed to do that properly.

"It was good that we had the experience of Ilso. He scored one and assisted one, he was winding down the clock when the younger players were trying to get the third goal. This win gives us some confidence as we will face Hougang (United) next."

Meanwhile, Warriors' boss Steinebrunner believes his side were unlucky not to gain a share of the spoils.

"I thought we deserved more than that," said the German. "The boys put up a better performance than the last time out against Hougang and we were pushing for the winner in the last few minutes.

"For that late goal, it was all about work ethnic and eagerness; making sure he does not get past you. But Ilso is a clever player. When he received the ball, he turned past our marker, passed to the flanks and got to the end of the cross.

"In that case, it was a painful one to take and we felt that a draw should have been the fairer result."

Warriors FC: Yazid Yasin (GK), Syaqir Sulaiman, Madhu Mohana, Kento Fukuda, Zulfadli Zainal Abidin (C), Poh Yi Feng, Hafiz Osman (Shaiful Esah 60'), Hafiz Nor (Fazli Jaffar 83'), Nikola Rak, Hafiz Rahim (Ridhuan Muhammad 71'), Jonathan Behe.

Home United: Hyrulnizam Juma'at (GK), Juma'at Jantan (C), Abdil Qaiyyim, Shahrin Saberin (Shamil Sharif 56'), Sirina Camara, Song Uiyoung, Zulfahmi Arifin, Khairul Nizam, Aqhari Abdullah (Faris Ramli 69'), Azhar Sairudin (Syahiran Miswan 80'), Ken Ilso.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by Kenneth Tan

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