Written by: Nigel Chin

Tampines Rovers’ title charge were derailed by Warriors FC on Monday evening after they were held to a stalemate at the Jurong West Stadium.

The Stags needed a win to ensure they will have destiny in their own hands, but could not find a way to put the ball in the back of the net, hitting the woodwork twice inside the second half.

The draw meant that V. Sundramoorthy’s charges now trail league leaders Brunei DPMM by five points, with just one game in hand.

Tampines could have opened the scoring within five minutes, but Mateo Roskam fired wide after Ismadi Mukhtar and Fabian Kwok combined nicely to set him up

Fifteen minutes later, Tampines goalkeeper Rodrigo Pacheco pulled off an amazing save to prevent Fazrul Nawaz from scoring at close range.

Stags’ captain Fahrudin Mustafic sent an effort rising over the bar in the 34th minute before Pacheco pulled off another great stop, this time by racing out of his box to stop Hafsyar Farkhan.

It was a whole different game in the second half however, with both sides creating a plethora of chances.

Fabian Kwok came the closest just 10 minutes after the restart, hitting a powerful left-footed shot from range that crashed off the post.

Three minutes later, Emmeric Ong sent Fazrul Nawaz through with a brilliant pass, but the striker was denied by Pacheco once more with the Brazilian goalkeeper producing another good save.

From the resulting corner, Hafiz Rahim forced a header towards goal, only for it to be kept out for Pacheco.

Down the other end in the 64th minute, Marin Vidosevic was required to clear off Pedrag Pocuca’s header off the line, before Ismadi forced Daniel Ong into a save.

A free-kick routine from the training ground by the hosts presented a chance for Rodrigo Tosi, who despite being unmarked, fired it way over the bar.

WIth 10 minutes left on the clock, Ismail Yunos saw his header bouncing off the crossbar, after rising the highest to meet Roberto Alviz’s corner.

Miroslav Pejic then wasted two opportunities with time winding down, before seeing a third pushed wide in the dying minutes, before referee W. Ravisanthiran blew his whistle for the final time.

Tampines Rovers: Rodrigo Pacheco (GK), Fabian Kwok, Pedrag Pocuca, Jufri Taha, Ismail Yunos, Ismadi Mukhtar, Fahrudin Mustafic, Roberto Alviz, Shaiful Esah (Firdaus Idros 78′), Mateo Roskam, Rodrigo Tosi (Noh Alam Shah 90’)

Warriors FC: Daniel Ong (GK), Syaqir Sulaiman, Daniel Bennett, Marin Vidosevic, Irwan Shah, Emmeric Ong, Karlo Ivancic, Hafsyar Farkhan (Hamqaamal Shah 70’), Hafiz Rahim, Miroslav Pejic, Fazrul Nawaz