Another pulsating round of action reshaped the narrative across the table – from statement wins to mounting pressure at the bottom of the nine-team standings. Here are five key talking points from the weekend:
Tigers roar back into the top half
Balestier Khalsa 5-2 Geylang International | Bishan Stadium | 20 February
(Nikola Ignjatovic O.G 11’, Jakov Katusa 16’, Bogdan Mandic 23’, 29’, Masahiro Sugita 84’ | Tin Matic O.G 5’, Shuhei Hoshino 45+4’)
Balestier Khalsa produced one of their most emphatic performances of the season after a commanding 5-2 victory over Geylang International.
The game burst into life in the first half, and it was Bogdan Mandic who stole the spotlight, scoring twice within five blistering minutes to put the Tigers firmly in control. Clinical and ruthless in front of goal, Balestier seemed to punish every defensive lapse to draw maximum reward from momentum.
The result boosted Balestier up in the standings, while Geylang’s defensive frailties once again proved costly as they slipped further down the standings.
Balestier Khalsa: Hafiz Ahmad, Darren Teh, Tajeli Salamat (Mario Subaric 46’), Madhu Mohana (C), Lazar Vujanic, Bogdan Mandic (Elijah Lim 81’), Harith Kanadi, Tin Matic (Ifat Sha’aban 90+4’), Masahiro Sugita, Jakov Katusa, Ignatius Ang (Daniel Goh 75’)
Unused subs: Martyn Mun, Fudhil I’Yadh, Aniq Raushan, Ilyasin Zayan, Yanir Ben Eliezer, Syafi Nur Hilman, Lin Ze Hao, Karthigaya Varmaan
Geylang International: Izwan Mahbud, Joilson Lucas Souza, Enrico Silveira, Abner Vinicius (Caelan Cheong 90+1’), Sergio Mendonca, Amir Syafiz (C) (Nicholas Beninger 81’), Fairuz Fazli (Andrew Aw Yong 81’), Nathan Mao (Henry Lawrence Spence 69’), Harith Danish, Luth Harith, Andy Reefqy
Unused subs: Aizil Yazid, Ainun Nuha Ilyasir, Ajay Robson, Marcus Mosses, Iryan Fandi, Garv Sahoo, Yazid Rizal Rais, Danial Ukail
Shingo charges ahead in Golden Boot race
Young Lions 0-2 Albirex Niigata (S) | Jalan Besar Stadium | 21 February
(Shingo Nakano 23’, 63’)
Albirex Niigata (S) continued their pursuit of the league leaders with a professional victory over the Young Lions, inspired by another standout display from Shingo Nakano. vers The Japanese forward netted twice to bring his tally to 10 league goals for the season, moving clear at the top of the scoring charts. Lion City Sailors’ Lennart Thy and BG Tampines Rovers’ Hide Higashikawa remain close behind on nine goals each.
Albirex now sit just two points behind BG Tampines with a game in hand over the Sailors, keeping genuine pressure on the title contenders. If Shingo maintains this form, the Golden Boot race could tilt decisively in his favour.
Young Lions: Izwan Mahbud, Joilson Lucas Souza, Enrico Silveira, Abner Vinicius (Caelan Cheong 90+1’), Sergio Mendonca, Amir Syafiz (C) (Nicholas Beninger 81’), Fairuz Fazli (Andrew Aw Yong 81’), Nathan Mao (Henry Lawrence Spence 69’), Harith Danish, Luth Harith, Andy Reefqy
Unused subs: Aizil Yazid, Ainun Nuha Ilyasir, Ajay Robson, Marcus Mosses, Iryan Fandi, Garv Sahoo, Yazid Rizal Rais, Danial Ukail
Albirex Niigata (S): Hassan Sunny, Kim Taeuk, Nozomi Ozawa, Komei Iida, Zulqarnaen Suzliman (Nicky Melvin Singh 71’), Katsuyuki Ishibashi (Naoki Yoshioka 71’), Syed Firdaus (Danish Qayyum 83’), Cho Eunsu, Abdul Rasaq (Helmi Shahrol 83’), Yang Hyeonju (Takumi Yokohata 62’), Shingo Nakano (C)
Unused subs: Takahiro Koga, Dylan Pereira, Ren Nishimura, Syukri Bashir, Sim Jun Yen, Delwinder Singh, Soshi Kadowaki
Sailors drop points – but remain firmly in control
Lion City Sailors 1-1 BG Tampines Rovers | Jalan Besar Stadium | 22 February
(Lennart Thy 21’ | Kohya Kazama 45’)
For the first time this season, Lion City Sailors were denied all three points, but the league leaders remain firmly in control of the title race.
Lennart Thy gave the Sailors a first-half lead, and although Kohya Kazama equalised before the break, the Sailors maintained control for long periods and continued to show their defensive organisation and squad depth.
They remain unbeaten and boast the league’s best defensive record, preserving a healthy cushion at the top despite the draw.
Teenager Kasey Rogers rises to the occasion
The headline clash of the weekend produced a breakout performance from 16-year-old Kasey Rogers.
On Sunday, the 16-year-old made his first Singapore Premier League start for BG Tampines Rovers after previously starting his first-ever senior competitive fixture in the Asian Champions League Two (ACL 2) Round of 16 match – against Vietnamese Club, Cong An Ha Noi – just four days prior.
He produced several key saves, including important stops to deny Thy, to keep his side in contention. Although he conceded in the 21st minute, Rogers showed maturity beyond his years and underlined his potential at the top level.
Lion City Sailors: Ivan Susak, Toni Datkovic, Tsiy William Ndenge (Rui Pires 68’), Lennart Thy (Anderson Lopes 68’), Bart Ramselaar, Hariss Harun (C), Hami Syahin (Shawal Anuar 64’), Bailey Wright, Diogo Costa, Akram Azman (Christopher van Huizen 87’), Kyoga Nakamura
Unused subs: Benjamin Zerak, Adib Nur Hakim, Lionel Tan, Hafiz Nor, Nur Adam Abdullah, Luka Adzic, Lucas Agueiro
BG Tampines Rovers: Kasey Rogers, Shuya Yamashita, Jacob Mahler, Seiga Sumi, Shah Shahiran (C), Glenn Kweh (Dylan James Fox 75’), Trent Anthony Buhagiar, Irfan Najeeb (Raoul Suhaimi 87’), Hide Higashikawa, Takeshi Yoshimoto (Amirul Haikal 41’), Kohya Kazama (Joel Chew 87’)
Unused subs: Danial Iliya, Jarec Ng, Ong Yu En, Zikos Chua, Iman Hakim, Yuki Kobayashi, Kegan Phang, Rae Peh
Jaguars’ slump deepens after Hougang setback
Hougang United 3-0 Tanjong Pagar United | Bishan Stadium | 23 February
(Settawut Wongsai 26’, Jaushua Sotirio 32’, Farhan Zulkifli 68’)
Tanjong Pagar United’s difficult run continued as they fell to a fourth consecutive defeat in a 3-0 loss to Hougang United.
Their only win of the season remains the victory over the Young Lions on 26 January, and confidence appears to be dipping. Against Hougang, they struggled to cope with attacking transitions and were punished for defensive lapses.
They also found it difficult to create clear chances at the other end, leaving the Jaguars searching for answers in the weeks ahead.
Hougang United: Zharfan Rohaizad, Jordan Vestering (Yang He 72’), Chonlawit Kanuengkid (Huzaifah Aziz 61’), Saifullah Akbar, Farhan Zulkifli, Settawut Wongsai, Washington Ayovi (Nabilai Kibunguchy 46’), Ryaan Sanizal (C), Yuma Suwa, Victor Blasco Llorens, Jaushua Sotirio (Rauf Sanizal 79’)
Unused subs: Ridhuan Barudin, Anders Aplin, Kanok Kongsimma, Saharat Panmarchya, Parinya Nusong, Wong Ngang Haang, Syady Sufwan, Algirdas Karlonas
Tanjong Pagar United: Zaiful Nizam (C), Kim Likwan, Fathullah Rahmat (Azim Akbar 72’), Zenivio Mota, Faizal Roslan, Raihan Rahman, Naqiuddin Eunos (Syahadat Masnawi 72’), Estevez Emilio (Vabio Canavaro 72’), Lee Chanwoo, Junior Djile, Anaqi Ismit (Samuel Pillai 78’)
Unused subs: Matthew Silva, Kenji Rusydi, Aloysius Pang, Sahil Suhaimi, Danny Ali, Haziq Zulkifli, Erfan Azhar, Izrafil Yusof
