Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Tanjong Pagar United picked up their second consecutive win on Thursday evening after beating Courts Young Lions by three goals to signal a return to form for the Jaguars.

The result saw Tanjong Pagar earn their fourth win of the season and allowed them to leapfrog Woodlands Wellington to ninth place.

The Jaguars put themselves in the driving seat with the help of opposing goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari’s blunder in the first half, before Frenchmen Kamel Ramdani and Monsef Zerka added their names to the scoresheet in the second half.

It was a very even first-half whereby both backlines were unbreakable for most instances and adamant in not allowing any space.

Sherif El-Masri was given the honours of creating the first chance of the evening, as he saw his free-kick sail straight into the grateful hands of the Jaguars’ custodian Aurelien Herisson.

The Jaguars however were the ones who drew first blood with their first chance of the night in the 17th minute, as Syazwan made a hash of catch to turn the ball into his own net.

Ruzaini Zainal was the creator of the chance as it was his cross-shot from 35 yards out which Syazwan was unable to hold onto.

Apart from the aforementioned incidents, nothing much of note materialised in the half as both sides struggled to carve out decent opportunities.

The following half saw the Jaguars emerge from the tunnel with renewed vigour, as they went about trying to double their lead with attacking impetus.

However, it was the Young Lions who nearly came back into the game, with attempts from Sahil Suhaimi and substitute Shameer Aziq not being far off with their attempts.

Sahil attempted a 25-yard free-kick which curled onto the post while Shameer had his looping header off Fariz Azienuddin’s cross gathered by Herisson.

Despite that, Tanjong Pagar struck once again to put themselves in the comfort zone with a two-goal lead in the 61st minute.

An unmarked Kamel Ramdani nodded in the second goal after Etiemble’s free kick from the left found the midfielder at the near post.

Just four minutes later, Patrick Vallee’s side sealed the victory through target man Zerka, who had the simplest of tasks tapping the ball into an open net, after Etiemble’s low cross from the left evaded everybody including Syazwan.

The third goal seemed to have killed off Aide Iskandar’s side as their penetrations were lacking urgency as compared to when the game was still at a deadlock.

Tanjong Pagar on the other hand were tightly gripping onto the lead and the clean sheet by defending very tightly and moving forward with extra care.

It could have been number four for the Jaguars, if not for Zerka’s finish was saved by the Young Lions custodian.

This was the Young Lions’ tenth defeat of the season as they failed to close the gap on the Jaguars, who are now seven points away ahead of the former.