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Faris helps Home edge past Hougang in thriller

SINGAPORE- It may have been his first start in the S.League since early March, no thanks to a groin injury that kept him out of action for six weeks.

Faris Ramli (right) trying to get away from Hougang United's Nazrul Nazari during their clubs' clash at the Jalan Besar Stadium. PHOTO: S.League

Faris Ramli (right) trying to get away from Hougang United's Nazrul Nazari during their clubs' clash at the Jalan Besar Stadium. PHOTO: S.League

SINGAPORE- It may have been his first start in the S.League since early March, no thanks to a groin injury that kept him out of action for six weeks.

But Home United’s Faris Ramli showed no signs of rust as the 23-year-old played an integral part in helping Home United defeat Hougang United 3-2 in a thrilling match in front of 2,613 fans at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night.

The national winger scored the Protectors’ third goal in the second-half, after team-mates Ken Ilso and Song Uiyoung scored in the first half. The Cheetahs scored late in each half through Stipe Plazibat and Raihan Rahman but were unable to rescue a point.

“It’s great to the back although I didn’t expect to play the whole match because I am still gradually recovering,” said Faris.

“However, the coaches kept believing in me and telling me I am ready. Coach (Philippe Aw) told me at half time that we needed to kill the game off by getting the third goal and I am glad that ultimately we got what we all wanted.”

Home took the lead in the 16th minute when Ilso released Khairul Nizam down the right wing, and the 24-year-old played a beautiful one-two with the Dane, who wrong-footed Hougang’s make-shift centre-back M Anumanthan before finishing nicely into the bottom left hand corner.

Twelve minutes later, it was 2-0.

Once again, Home broke on the counter with Faris, and he exchanged a series of well-timed passed with Song before the South Korean kept his composure and finished coolly past Hougang custodian Khairulhin Khalid.

But Hougang were handed a lifeline just before half time when Zulfahmi Arifin recklessly tripped Nazrul Nazari in the penalty area and referee Muhd Taqi pointed to the spot without hesitation.

Croatian forward Plazibat seemed uncertain during his run-up, but his finish was anything but as he rifled powerfully into the top left hand corner for his seventh goal this season.

Iqbal Hussain had a great chance to level the scoreline early in the second-half but he headed wide from Fumiya Kogure’s cross after being left unmarked in the penalty area.

Ilso then had a great chance to make it 3-1 on the hour mark but fired straight at Khairulhin on the hour mark. Moments later, Aqhari Abdullah blasted high and wide when it seemed harder to miss the target.

However, Home finally got their third goal when Faris was put through on goal by substitute Syahiran Miswan and finished beautifully. Hougang pulled one back in the 86th minute when Raihan headed in from Kogure’s corner after being left totally unmarked but they were unable to grab an equaliser.

Despite a vital win for his team, Home head coach Philippe Aw expressed his frustration at his side’s missed chances and lack of concentration at the back.

“Once again we wasted many chances until Faris scored the third goal,” said Aw. “I am unhappy because we could have made things easier for ourselves had we finished off those chances.”

He added, “The goals were conceded were down to individual errors. It’s funny because throughout the course of the season every player has taken turns to commit individual mistakes. I hope this will stop.”

Meanwhile Hougang head coach K Balagumaran rued his team’s lack of concentration at the back.

“Two of the goals we conceded came from counter-attacks following our corners,” he said. “We went through videos before the match because we knew Home are a threat from such situations but our back four went to sleep and I also believe some of our players got too excited playing in such a big game.”

Home move up to fourth place on 15 points while Hougang remain in third place, just one point ahead.

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