After a lengthy international break, the Singapore Premier League returned with a bang as Matchweek 4 once again delivered fireworks on the pitch. From decisive victories to breathtaking goals, here are 5 talking points that were served up this week.
- Hougang undone by defensive woes once again
Another week, another defensive collapse for Hougang United. The Cheetahs’ backline was again exposed in their 4-0 thrashing by Albirex Niigata. They failed to deal with a direct long ball over the top in the first half, allowing Shingo Nakano to dart in for his first goal. Nicky Melvin Singh piled on their misery late on, as he exploited acres of space on the wing for his quickfire brace. To compound matters, Hougang were shown their third red card in just four league games after Huzaifah Aziz caught Syed Firdaus with a flailing arm.
In contrast, Albirex are thriving under Keji Shigetomi. With their free-flowing brand of attacking football, the White Swans are showing signs of the vintage title-winning Albirex side that once struck fear into the league. While questions remain over their consistency, the team are showing early promise as one of the Lion City Sailors’ key challengers for the league crown.
- Fighting Tigers deliver blow to Stags’ title hopes
Amid VAR drama and end-to-end action, Balestier Khalsa exhibited remarkable resilience, coming from behind three times to snatch a crucial point at Our Tampines Hub. A late Tin Matić penalty capped off a spirited performance from a side defying early-season doubters. The Tigers showed little fear against an in-form Stags team, denying their much-fancied opponents prolonged time on the ball. Balestier’s fighting spirit is becoming a hallmark of their game, having overturned deficits to secure points in three of their last four league matches.
This saw two costly points dropped for Noh Rahman’s BG Tampines side, who may feel hard done by that late penalty decision. However, they did have chances to put the game to bed. Substitute Glenn Kweh nearly sealed his hat-trick after scoring a well-taken brace off the bench, but he lashed a close-range volley over in the 83rd minute — a costly miss for the home side. With the Stags now seven points off the summit – albeit with a game in hand – they need to respond swiftly to keep pace in the title race.
- Sailors show no signs of slowing down
The Sailors cruised to another routine win, dismantling a weary Young Lions side with ease. Their emphatic win marked the third consecutive league game where the reigning champions netted five goals or more. With five different goal-scorers, the Sailors were dominant all game as they breached the Young Lions’ low block without ever getting out of second gear. This also allowed Aleksandar Ranković to rest key assets like Bailey Wright and Anderson Lopes ahead of their midweek trip to Bangkok in the Asian Champions League Two (ACL2).
For the Young Lions, it’s now four straight defeats – including losses to Tanjong Pagar and Hougang United. Despite glimpses of promise like a slick team goal against the Sailors, they are evidently struggling to convert those moments into points. With the SEA Games in December looming, the Young Lions urgently need a spark of belief and consistency.
- Toothless Jaguars fall to defeat against the Eagles
After a stunning rout of the Young Lions in the previous matchweek, Tanjong Pagar were brought back down to earth after losing 2-1 to Geylang International. Clear-cut chances came at a premium for the Jaguars, with a brilliant Bruno Dybal free-kick their only highlight in an otherwise subdued display. Five of their eight attempts came after the 89th minute, with Sahil Suhaimi’s stoppage-time header the closest they came to salvaging a point.
At the other end, Nikola Ignjatović dominated both boxes — nullifying Youssef Ezzejjari and opening the scoring with a towering header. Geylang’s creative duo of Vincent Bezecourt and Ryoya Taniguchi were buzzed throughout, while Shuhei Hoshino’s wait for his first league goal of the season went on as he saw his 73rd-minute effort come off the post.
- Weekend of spectacular goals
Matchweek 4 will be remembered as a standout for its breathtaking goals, with Albirex Niigata’s Shingo Nakano’s dipping strike and Nicky Melvin Singh’s low-driven shot against Hougang United sparking an electrifying week.
Saturday brought more highlights as Bruno Dybal curled a free-kick into the top corner, Lucas Agueiro capping a flowing Young Lions move with a rocket, and Lennart Thy responded with a fierce volley.
The clash between Balestier and BG Tampines added further brilliance as Glenn Kweh and Madhu Mohana produced deft finishes, while Masahiro Sugita’s thunderous long-range shot crowned a weekend of unforgettable strikes.