A first half Madison Telmer treble the catalyst in Lion City Sailors' six goal demolition of the Cheetahs at Yishun Stadium
Nur Izzati and Miray Altun celebrate the Sailors' second goal of the night. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG
Singapore, 27th August 2022 - Lion City Sailors devoured Hougang United in the Deloitte Women's Premier League last night, hitting the Cheetahs for six by the time the first half ended at Yishun Stadium.
Both teams entered the fixture from opposing ends of the league table, and did battle on a pitch that was muddied by showers throughout the day. It mattered little for the league leaders as Madison Telmer bagged a hat-trick with Nur Izzati, Miray Altun and Sara Merican also getting a goal each to secure 3 important points for the ladies in blue.
It did not take long for the current top goal scorer, Nur Izzati to find the breakthrough with the help of Altun. After squeezing through a sea of defenders, she laid the ball off for Izzati who side footed it calmly into the back of the net.
More photos from the match available in SportPlus.sg's photo gallery here.
Clae Koh times a tackle on Nur Izzati. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG
Not long after, Altun got herself on the scoresheet, latching onto Sara’s deflected cross to rifle home from close range. Just minutes later Telmer got her first goal of the night, cooly slotting the ball past Gladys Cheng in the Hougang goal despite Goh Yi Xuan's best efforts to catch up to the forward who had broken away.
The Cheetahs struggled to keep The Sailors at bay as LCS showed why they were sitting at the top-of-the-table - stringing together numerous passes in little triangles with ease and good movement, growing in dominance as the half wore on. One-twos between the players in the middle and the flanks proved deadly as Hougang’s defenders found it difficult to intercept the ball.
Sara Merican takes on Goh Yi Xuan out on the wing. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG
Telmer’s next two goals came in quick succession as she completed her hat-trick within the first 45 minutes. Despite Ho Wen Jin’s attempt at a last-ditch tackle, Telmer was quick to fire a shot which made its way into the net. Quick on her feet, she then controlled the ball clinically to make herself enough room to strike the ball past Cheng.
Things only got worse for Hougang when Sara Merican pummeled the ball in from the right wing into the far corner to make it 6-0.
Ho Wen Jin slides in in a last-ditched attempt to stop Madison Telmer. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG
In the second half, The Cheetahs came out a more organised side and blocked shot after shot that were peppered at the Hougang goal to keep the score line under control. For the Sailors, Beatrice Tan made way for Nur Kusumawati in goal and found herself sightly busier than her teammate.
There were several chances for The Sailors to extend their already merciless lead but in a bid for redemption, Cheng produced strong saves to deny them. Halfway through the second half, her bravery was evident as she slid out in a one-on-one situation to parry the ball away despite Nur Izzati’s threatening presence.
Gladys Cheng gathers the ball safely after a promising Sailors attack. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG
Jasmine Kua came on for Cheng to play out the rest of the game in goal. Kua herself denied several shots, one of which was a rocket by Paula Druschke which required her to dive to her left at full stretch.
Dhaniyah Qasimah came very close to a getting a consolation goal for her team but she could not help but watch as her shot from the left wing painfully went past the far post. Nicole Lim, who came on as a substitute was dancing past Hougang’s defence.
Her efforts paid off when she made it 7-0 in what was a chaotic scramble for the ball in the box. The referee, however, disallowed the goal as Kua was fouled in the process, leaving the game to come to an end with a goalless second half.
Dhaniyah Qasimah breaks away from Nur Syazwani and powers forward. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG
With only three games left to go in the season, Lion City Sailors are favourites to take the title but any slip up could allow second place Tanjong Pagar United to pounce on the opportunity.
For the next three weeks though, The Sailors sit comfortably on top as the league takes a breather. Hougang will be in search of their first win when they take on Albirex Niigata.
More photos from the match available in SportPlus.sg's photo gallery here.
Deloitte Women's Premier League 2022