Tigers’ last-gasp goal thwarts Warriors’ charge

SINGAPORE — Balestier Khalsa defender Fadli Kamis struck in the 89th minute to snatch a point for the Tigers in their tightly-contested 1-1 S.League draw against Warriors FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium earlier on Friday (March 12) night.

Warriors thought they were well on their way to a win, courtesy of Frenchman Jonathan Behe’s 56th minute effort, until Fadli headed in the equaliser from Fazli Ayob’s free kick late on.

The match got off to a rather slow start with chances few and far between in the first half.

Balestier’s Syafiq Zainal volleyed towards goal in the 11th minute only to be denied by Warriors’ veteran goalkeeper Yazid Yasin.

The Tigers, who were without their injured Serbian centre-back Emir Lotinac after he picked up an injury in the AFC Cup group match against Kitchee on Tuesday, then gave a free kick away two minutes later which Warriors’ full-back Shaiful Esah flashed just over.

Balestier front man Miroslav Kristic put a free kick wide of goal from a similar position in the 28th minute as his goalless drought stretched to four matches.

Warriors started the second half on the front foot and midfielder Ignatius Ang should have scored in the 54th minute but headed just over the bar with the goal gaping. 

However Behe, who found the back of the net against Home United, Brunei DPMM and Garena Young Lions in previous weeks, spared his teammate’s blushes two minutes later with a neat finish after Shaiful found him unmarked with a low cross. It was the Frenchman’s fourth goal in four matches.

Croatian midfielder Nikola Rak then had a great chance to make it 2-0 but he blasted over in the 66th minute, and he was made to rue that chance.

Balestier upped the tempo in the final 15 minutes, and Fadli sneaked in behind the opposing defence to head home Fazli’s well-lofted free kick to break Warriors hearts.

“It is a really good point for us and we did well to get the equaliser,” said Balestier head coach Marko Kraljevic after the match. “To equalise in the 89th minute is always sweet and it’s an excellent job from the boys.

“As we can see, every game in the S.League is tough. All teams are very even and even though I am pleased with tonight’s result, I still want to get more points.”

Warriors head coach Jorg Steinebrunner was pleased with his side’s performance despite conceding a late goal.

“We definitely were the better team on the night and unsettled them in the first half by getting into the dangerous areas,” he said. “But, it was two points lost for us tonight.”

In the night’s other match in Brunei, reigning S.League champions Brunei DPMM beat Home United 2-1.

Ambroise Begue fired the Protectors into the lead in the 19th minute but Frenchman Sirina Camara gave away a penalty in the 34th minute after bringing down DPMM’s Scottish centre-back Brian McLean in the box and last season’s top scorer Rafael Ramazotti duly converted.

Azwan Ali then scored the winner for the Brunei team in the 72nd minute after he headed home from midfielder Paulo Sergio’s cross.