Home United fall to shock defeat against Hougang United

Home United's hopes of a first S.League title in 14 years took a dent after a surprise 3-2 defeat to rivals Hougang United in a televised game at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night.

It looked like the Protectors had done enough to earn a point after twice fighting back from a goal down. But Fareez Farhan scored late on to seal a shock win for coach Philippe Aw over his former club.

Home had dominated the first half-hour, but found the Hougang backline tough to breach.

The Cheetahs adopted a soak-and-strike strategy from kickoff -- and it paid off on the 33rd minute.

Fabian Kwok's cross was half-cleared by Juma'at Jantan into the path of Nazrul Nazari. The Hougang right-winger unleashed a speculative half-volley with his weaker left foot from the edge of the box, which Home keeper Rudy Khairullah got a touch but failed to keep out.

The lead lasted just four minutes as Home levelled matters through their red-hot marksman.

Striker Stipe Plazibat was on hand to tap home the loose ball for his 17th goal of the season after his initial deflected shot was retrieved by Sirina Camara in the area.

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Hougang would, however, retake the lead on 41 minutes through Nazrul again.

Advancing through on goal via captain Azhar Sairudin's intelligent back-heel, the Singapore international rifled the ball in off the post to put Aw's side 2-1 up at the break.

Home coach Aidil Sharin reacted by bringing on Khairul Nizam for Amiruldin Asraf at half-time and the substitute took just five minutes to make his mark.

The 26-year-old was left criminally unmarked at the far post to nod Camara's pinpoint cross, past a stranded Khairulhin Khalid and restore parity for Home.

The Protectors then created a glut of chances to score a third, but was let down by some wasteful finishing.

They were made to pay the price seven minutes before the end as Hougang took the lead for the third time on the night.

After Kwok's shot was half-cleared into his path, Fareez reacted the quickest to the loose ball. He drilled home a low left-footed effort from 20 yards out that came off the left post before going in.

Despite throwing the proverbial kitchen sink late on, Home were unable to find another equaliser and fell to their second defeat of the season.

Home United: Rudy Khairullah (GK), Juma'at Jantan, Abdil Qaiyyim, Irfan Fandi (Afiq Yunos 85'), Sirina Camara, Amiruldin Asraf (Khairul Nizam 46'), Hariss Harun, Izzdin Shafiq, Adam Swandi (Marijan Suto 70'), Faris Ramli, Stipe Plazibat

Hougang United: Khairulhin Khalid (GK), Delwinder Singh, Lionel Tan, Atsushi Shirota, Ali Hudzaifi, Nazrul Nazari (Faiz Salleh 89'), Syahiran Miswan, Zulfahmi Arifin (Antoine Viterale 59'), Fabian Kwok, Fareez Farhan, Azhar Sairudin (C) (Fumiya Kogure 71')