Central Park International

2

vs

Real Madras Riders

2

Central Park International winless streak stretches to 4 games after they failed to hold on to their lead yet again with five minutes remaining as they shared the spoils with Real Madras Riders at Clementi Stadium, a venue which have seen the club created history when they notched a 2-0 victory against Hougang Sports Club in 2006 enroute to their dream run right into the National Football League but this time round, it could probably be a venue where a chapter closes.

The match was probably like a boxing match where two fighters exchange blows as both teams try to prod and desect each other as the battle ensued right in the middle of the park where Jiayong and Michael Jensen hold their fort with Real Madras creating the better of opportunities between the two teams. Sharks came closest to scoring when Na'eem managed to shimmy his way past two markers and send a delicious cross across goal. The money was on his strike counterpart Murugesan to get at the end of that cross but even at full stretch, he was unable to connect to the cross which would have given his team the lead. The opposition had a couple of opportunities of their own to take the lead when they managed to put the Sharks under pressure from a series of corners but as the game wore on, both teams just needed that luck of the green which didn't rub either way until five minutes from half-time when Brendan's cross somehow fell into the path of the onrushing Murugesan and the forward who was having sort of a barren run in front of goal made no mistake with a sublime finish from close range as he gave his team a 1-0 lead into half-time.

The second round started brightly for the International with a couple of opportunities falling for Aaron and Hafsyar but they couldn't capitalise on it. It was déjà vu for the Sharks though as they were punished by the opposition as they got their leveler after some determined attacks from the opposition. The match swung from one end to the other and the introduction of Iskandar and Na'eem midway into the half provided some creative spark in the attacking third and Na'eem could have put his name on the scoresheet when he single-handedly put himself into a one-on-one situation only to fluff at his shot at the final moment. Nonetheless, it was the luck of the green yet again when a hopeful long range shot from Murugesan somehow bounced in front of the custodian that put the Sharks back into the lead yet again but the euphoria was shortlived when Sharks yet again failed to defend their lead with five minutes remaining as Real Madras equalised to make the score 2-2. The match was no swansong as both teams shared the spoils.

The manager however refused to comment at the end of the match.