NUS 3-1 HKU

NUS made home ground advantage count against TIG Soccer defending champions HKU, emerging 3-1 victors in the opening match of the tournament.

Early in the first half, a long throw into the NUS penalty box saw the HKU captain poke the ball in from 6 yards. Calls for dangerous play fell on deaf ears as the referee claimed fair play.

NUS went on the offensive, and as Fabian slotted home from a low cross, the referee denied what seemed a legitimate goal for an alleged infringement on the HKU goalkeeper. Nigel also came close with a wicked shot from just inside the box, only to be denied by the crossbar.

But the home side never gave up the chase. A freekick from deep found the unmarked Vincent head past the on-rushing goalkeeper. Both teams were back at deuce.

And shortly before the half time whistle, NUS finally took the lead when Fabian found the goal from a scramble in the HKU box.

The second half started with a lower tempo than the first. In one of few attacks by NUS, a far post cross by Chengwei found Sudhi running from the blind side, but the sweetly connected volley was denied point blank by the HKU keeper.

Not long after, NUS were reduced to 10 men when Andy was found to have impeded a HKU player during a counter attack.

HKU gathered momentum as they went in search for an equalizer. A long range shot was smothered easily by Aziz, and a connecting header from a corner kick was once again saved off the line by the in-form NUS goalkeeper.

As HKU sent more men forward, NUS exploited the space behind the defence. In one attack, Vincent laid the ball off for Chengwei to slot in NUS' third goal to further extend the lead. Fabian also had a one-on-one with the HKU goalkeeper, whose quick reflexes saved HKU from further damage.

At the end, it was the steely determination of the NUS side that saw them emerge 3-1 winners against the hardworking visitors.