Geylang International’s Ryoya Taniguchi in action against Lion City Sailors’ Lionel Tan, 30 August 2024.
SINGAPORE, 1 SEPTEMBER 2024 – It remains status quo in the enthralling Singapore Premier League (SPL) title race as the top two sides both dropped points this week. Held by Hougang United, BG Tampines Rovers remained two points ahead of Lion City Sailors who drew with Geylang International. Elsewhere, Balestier Khalsa smashed Young Lions to pull level on points with third-placed Eagles while bottom side Tanjong Pagar United claimed a gritty point against Brunei DPMM. We recap all the action here…
Stags stifled by Cheetahs
Hougang 1-1 BG Tampines | Jalan Besar | 30 August
Ensar Brunčević 31’ | Seia Kunori 44’
Hougang took a shock lead with Brunčević left unmarked in the six-yard box to nod home Shahdan Sulaiman’s corner, before Kunori swept home a fine finish from just outside the area to rescue a point for the Stags.
Facts
- BG Tampines remains the only unbeaten side this season, but have been held to draws in three out of their last five league outings.
- Brunčević scored his first SPL goal since April 2022, ironically against Hougang in Balestier’s 2-1 victory over the Cheetahs.
- Kunori has now scored in five straight SPL matches for the first time.
Hougang: Zaiful Nizam (GK), Nazrul Nazari (C), Ensar Brunčević, Faris Hasić, Adam Reefdy (Jordan Vestering 72’), Ismail Salihović, Shahdan Sulaiman, Hazzuwan Halim (Ajay Robson 66’), Stjepan Plazonja, Shodai Yokoyama, Dejan Račić.
Unused subs: Kenji Rusydi (GK), Justin Hui, Nazhiim Harman, Gabriel Quak, Zamani Zamri, Louka Vaissierre-Tan, Yasir Nizamudin.
BG Tampines: Syazwan Buhari (GK) (C), Jared Gallagher, Irfan Najeeb, Shuya Yamashita, Miloš Zlatković (Saifullah Akbar 46’), Shah Shahiran, Kyoga Nakamura, Glenn Kweh (Taufik Suparno 73’), Seia Kunori, Faris Ramli (Joel Chew 86’), Boris Kopitović.
Unused subs: Ridhuan Barudin (GK), Yasir Hanapi, Syahrul Sazali, Kegan Phang, Thanet Suknate, Kieran Tan.
Red Cards – Ismail Salihović (Hougang) 90’+4 | Taufik Suparno (BG Tampines) 90’
Hougang United’s Hazzuwan Halim in action against BG Tampines Rovers’ Jared Gallagher, 30 August 2024.
Eagles frustrate Sailors again
Sailors 2-2 Geylang | Bishan | 30 August
Bart Ramselaar 49’, Maxime Lestienne 65’ | Tomoyuki Doi 58’, pen. 86’
After a slow first half, Ramselaar showed fine balance to put the Sailors ahead but Doi restored parity for Geylang by converting Shakir Hamzah’s expert cut-back. Lestienne then rounded Rudy Khairullah to put the home side back ahead, but Doi then fired home from the spot to earn the Eagles a share of the spoils.
Facts
- Geylang have held the Sailors in both head-to-head encounters this season.
- Half of Geylang’s games this season (14) have ended in draws.
- Doi has now reached 22 goals for the season, while Lestienne has now reached double figures in the SPL for a third straight campaign.
- The Sailors are win-less in two straight league matches for the first time since July 2023.
Sailors: Izwan Mahbud (GK), Hafiz Nor, Lionel Tan, Bailey Wright (C), Christopher van Huizen, Rui Pires, Hami Syahin (Lennart Thy 66’), Maxime Lestienne, Song Uiyoung, Bart Ramselaar, Shawal Anuar (Obren Kljajić 87’).
Unused subs: Zharfan Rohaizad (GK), Bill Mamadou, Hariss Harun, Abdul Rasaq Akeem, Haiqal Pashia, Adam Swandi, Nathan Mao.
Geylang: Rudy Khairullah (GK) (Hairul Syirhan 72’), Joshua Pereira (C), Rio Sakuma, Keito Hariya, Shakir Hamzah, Takahiro Tezuka, Vincent Bezecourt, Naqiuddin Eunos (Akmal Azman 90’+3), Ryoya Taniguchi, Iqbal Hussain (Zikos Chua 72’), Tomoyuki Doi.
Unused subs: Faisal Shahril, Ahmad Syahir, Raiyan Noor, Hud Ismail, Shafrel Ariel, Nur Ikhsanuddin.
Geylang International’s Tomoyuki Doi celebrates scoring against Lion City Sailors, 30 August 2024.
Jaguars stem losing streak
DPMM 1-1 Tanjong Pagar | Bandar Seri Begawan | 31 August
Faizal Roslan O.G. 30’ | Salif Cissé 66’
Azwan Ali Rahman’s teasing cross forced Faizal to put through his own net to give the home side the lead, but Cissé rescued a point for Tanjong Pagar with a brilliant solo effort that gave Kristijan Naumovski no chance at all in the DPMM goal.
Facts
- This is DPMM’s fourth straight draw at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium and they are now unbeaten in their last three league outings.
- Tanjong Pagar ended a five-match losing streak.
- Cissé scored his sixth SPL goal of the season.
DPMM: Kristijan Naumovski (GK), Nazry Aiman (Syafiq Safiuddin 84’), Yura Indera Putera, Nurikhwan Othman, Najib Tarif (Abdul Mu’iz Sisa 77’), Farshad Noor, Abdul Hariz Herman (Nazirrudin Ismail 77’), Azwan Ali Rahman (C), Hakeme Yazid, Miguel Oliveira, Julio Cruz (Gabriel Gama 12’).
Unused subs: Haimie Nyaring (GK), Hanif Farhan, Azwan Saleh, Faturrahman Embran, Hanif Hamir.
Tanjong Pagar: Prathip Ekamparam (GK), Farid Jafiri (Zenivio Mota 46’), Syed Akmal (Shahrin Saberin 90’+4), Faizal Roslan, Akram Azman (C), Tomoki Wada, Rezza Rezky (Saiful Azhar 90’+4), Timur Talipov, Stefan Paunović (Salif Cissé 46’), Shodai Nishikawa, Sahil Suhaimi (Syahadat Masnawi 82’).
Unused subs: Fashah Iskandar (GK), Riki Kimura (GK), Azim Akbar, Daniel Elfian.
Brunei DPMM’s Miguel Oliveira in action against Tanjong Pagar United, 31 August 2024.
Terrific Tigers on a roll
Young Lions 2-7 Balestier | Jalan Besar | 31 August
Itsuki Enomoto pen. 35’, Farhan Zulkifli 66’ | Alen Kozar 10’, Ignatius Ang 22’, 64’, Ismaïl Sassi 57’, 76’, 78’, Madhu Mohana 90’+3
Kozar’s fine volley opened the floodgates as Balestier duly doubled their lead through a calm Ang finish inside the area. Enomoto halved the deficit from the spot for Young Lions, but Sassi then diverted in Masahiro Sugita’s shot before Ang applied the finishing touch on a fine team move to make it 4-1 to the Tigers. Sassi then netted two headers to complete his hat-trick, before Madhu popped up at the far post to complete the convincing rout.
Facts
- Balestier are the fourth team to score seven goals in a match this season after Geylang, Albirex Niigata (S) and the Sailors.
- Balestier are unbeaten in their last five league matches.
- Sassi has now scored in his last five SPL appearances, tallying a total of seven goals.
- Ang netted his first-ever career brace – this is already his best-ever scoring season with five goals.
Young Lions: Aizil Yazid (GK), Raoul Suhaimi (Kieran Teo 79’), Aqil Yazid, Jun Kobayashi, Nur Adam Abdullah, Kan Kobayashi (Ikram Mikhail 90’), Kaisei Ogawa (Fathullah Rahmat 79’), Farhan Zulkifli (C), Danish Qayyum (Garv Sahoo 67’), Khairin Nadim (Andrew Aw 67’), Itsuki Enomoto.
Unused subs: Rauf Erwan (GK), Syafi Nur Hilman, Jonan Tan, Danial Crichton.
Balestier: Hafiz Ahmad (GK), Darren Teh, Madhu Mohana, Jordan Emaviwe, Fudhil I’yadh (Reycredo Bukit 87’), Alen Kozar (C), Ismaïl Sassi (Elijah Lim 87’), Masahiro Sugita, Ignatius Ang (Amiruldin Asraf 81’), Riku Fukashiro, Kodai Tanaka.
Unused subs: Martyn Mun (GK), Wayne Chew (GK), Emmeric Ong, Irfan Mika’il, Merrick Tan, Darren Teo.
Balestier Khalsa’s Kodai Tanaka in action against Young Lions, 31 August 2024.
