Written by: Phoon Jia Hui

A total of 16 goals were scored over five matches in the opening round of the 2014 Great Eastern Yeo’s Prime League season as Home United currently sit top on superior goal difference.

The Protectors cruised to a 5-0 win over defending champions Balestier Khalsa at the Bishan Stadium thanks to brace from Adib Syahiran and Haziq Kanadi as well as a goal from Nur Hizami – all in the first half – to secure all three points.

Over at the Bedok Stadium, Tampines Rovers thumped Geylang International 5-1 in the eastern derby.

Shafeeq Faruk gave the Eagles the lead but Tampines soon pulled level through Taufik Suparno just before the half-hour mark.

Khalili D’Cruz then put the Stags in front in the 32nd minute before captain Cameron Bell put daylight between themselves and Geylang when he struck twice in the space of seven second-half minutes before substitute Afiq Udin finally sealed the win in injury-time.

The other team who got their campaign off to a winning start was Tanjong Pagar United. Lucas Jester’s first-minute goal was enough for the Jaguars to see off the National Football Academy

(NFA) U17 at the Queenstown Stadium and move joint-top with Home and Tampines in third.

Meanwhile, Singapore Cubs and Warriors FC shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Jurong West Stadium. Hazim Faiz tapped home from close range shortly after the break to hand the Cubs the lead but Suria Prakash leveled matters from the spot minutes later to earn Kevin Wee’s charges a share of the spoils in a tight encounter.

Finally, Hougang United and Woodlands Wellington had to settle for a point each after playing out a 1-1 draw at the Hougang Stadium with Haidil Sufian cancelling out Khairul Ariffin’s first-half penalty on the hour mark.

Receiving a bye in the first round, the NFA U18 will now take on Hougang at the Bukit Gombak Stadium in their first match of the season while Balestier take a break in Round 2.

Round 1 Results

Geylang International 1 (Shafeeq Faruk 18’) Tampines 5 (Taufik Suparno 29’, Khalili D’Cruz 32’, Cameron Bell 77’, 84’, Afiq Udin 90’)

Singapore Cubs 1 (Hazim Faiz 49’) Warriors 1 (Suria Prakash pen 57’)

Home United 5 (Adib Syahiran 19’, 33’, Haziq Kanadi 29’, 42’, Nur Hizami 23’) Balestier Khalsa 0

Hougang United 1 (Haidil Sufian 60’) Woodlands Wellington 1 (Khairul Ariffin pen 43’)

Tanjong Pagar United 1 (Lucas Jester 1’) NFA U17 0

Round 2 Matches

8th March (Saturday)

Singapore Cubs vs Hougang United (Jurong West Stadium, 5pm)

NFA U18 vs Warriors FC (Bukit Gombak Stadium, 5pm)

9th March (Sunday)

Tampines Rovers vs Home United (Clementi Stadium, 5pm)

Woodlands Wellington vs Tanjong Pagar United (Woodlands Stadium, 5pm)

10th March (Monday)

NFA U17 vs Geylang International (Jurong West, 7.30pm)

Photo: Prime League – Hougang United vs Woodlands Wellington (1 March 2014)