Written By: Kenneth Ho

Hougang continued its fine form with a 2-0 victory over Geylang International as they maintained the club’s push for at least a top-six finish.

The Brazilian duo was at it again as Diego Gama and Geison Moura both scored on either half of the match to gift the Cheetahs their fourth win in their last five games.

The Eagles had come into the game hoping to halt a three-game winless run over a side which they had shocked earlier in the season to comeback from two goals down and emerge as 3-2 winners.

However Geylang were left stunned by an early goal as Gama scored the opener after he latched onto a cross from Nurhilmi Jasni and hooked the ball over Geylang custodian Joey Sim in the 12th minute.

While Felice saw his attempt from the edge from the box saved by Fadhil Salim, that was the only chance the Eagles could muster in the first half despite battling hard.

The Cheetahs on the other hand should have gone two goals up before the break. After a good run by Moura down the left, the forward proceeded to pull the ball across the face of goal for Nurhilmi but the latter failed to get a touch on the ball with Sim seemingly stranded.

Geylang were close to getting an equaliser after the break when Ridhuan Muhammad found an unmarked Mustaqim Manzur but the forward was denied by a fine save from Fadhil in the 51st minute.

The goalkeeper then made a sound judgement five minutes later to race off his line and clear away an Aliff Shafaein through pass before it reached a lurking Mustaqim.

Hougang doubled its advantage just before the hour mark, albeit from a blunder by Sim as he punched Fazli Jaffar’s cross into Moura’s path and the Brazilian needed no invitation to put the ball into an unguarded net.

The hosts had a great chance to put the game to bed on 65 minutes when Wahyudi Wahid found Gama in the box, but the unmarked striker contrived to head the ball over from three yards out.

Despite the two-goal margin, Hougang still had to work for their clean sheet as Fadhil had to parry away Franco Chivilo’s fierce drive.

Mustaqim had a chance to pull one back for the visitors towards the end but his volley from the danger area only flashed past the post.

The result ensured that Hougang remained unbeaten in seven league games and go up to fifth spot, two points ahead of Home United who have a game in hand.