Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Geylang International marched into the quarter-finals of the RHB Singapore Cup as they thumped Woodlands Wellington 5-1 on Tuesday evening.

Goals by Khairulnizam Jumahat, Leonel Felice, Mustaqim Manzur, Aliff Shafein and Hafiz Nor granted the Eagles a win as Chang Jo Yoon’s penalty was not enough for Woodlands.

Woodlands started the game brighter with their swift one-touch passing and had the first chance to score 11 minutes into the game when Shafuan Sutohmoh drilled a low shot straight into Siddiq Durimi’s palms.

Geylang on the other hand were trying to settle down into the game and had no opportunity to trouble Woodlands until the 15th minute, when they drew first blood with a marvelous effort.

Mustaqim’s free-kick from the left was cleared by Chang but only as far as to Khairulnizam and the right-back bravely attempted a first-time rocket shot from 40 yards which perfectly sailed past everyone including Woodlands goalkeeper Yazid Yasin into the top corner of the net.

Four minutes later, Moon Soon Ho’s curling effort from just outside the penalty box was easy for Siddiq to handle as the Rams looked to grab an equaliser.

Another chance was coming their way for Woodlands in the 29th minute as Chang brilliantly latched on to a long ball by Rosman Sulaiman before he laid the ball back to Fadhil Noh, who swept in a deep cross for Moon to volley into the custodian’s grateful hands.

However, Geylang showed their clinical side as they claimed their second goal of the game with just their second opportunity in the 33rd minute.

Mustaqim’s clever first touch from a long ball allowed him to whizz away from Goh Swee Swee as the winger sweetly crossed in the ball for Felice to simply head into the bottom corner of the net.

Woodlands managed to get back into the game before half-time when Moon was brought down in the penalty box by Jalal in the 42nd minute.

Chang stepped up and sent Siddiq the wrong way with a as he found the bottom corner of the net.

The northern side kick-started the second-half with more fire, as speedy Andy Ahmad was introduced to replace Goh.

However, things did not pan out the way they wanted as the Eagles increased their lead five minutes into the restart with another stunning strike, this time by Mustaqim.

The former national player delightfully curled his free-kick from the left which clipped the underside of the woodwork and went into the top corner of the net.

The visitors immediately made it four in the 52nd minute when Aliff got onto the end of Felice’s low cross and finished it past the hapless Yazid, after starting the counter-attack himself.

More chances were presented to them but were not converted as Ridhuan Muhammad and Kento Fukuda saw their finishes find the wrong side of the post.

It was practically game over for Woodlands in the 70th minute when substitute Hafiz Nor beat the offside trap before lobbing the ball over Yazid to conclude the six-goal thriller.