Albirex Niigata (S)’s Haziq Kamarudin in action against Tanjong Pagar United’s Faizal Roslan, 20 September 2024
SINGAPORE, 23 SEPTEMBER 2024 – The 2024/25 Singapore Premier League title race continues to deliver, with Lion City Sailors dispatching Balestier Khalsa to go three points clear at the top while nearest rivals BG Tampines Rovers fell to their first defeat of the season away at Brunei DPMM. Elsewhere, Albirex Niigata (S) lifted themselves to sixth after dispatching Tanjong Pagar United while Young Lions and Hougang United played out an eight-goal thriller. We recap all the action here…
Home comforts for White Swans
Albirex 4-1 Tanjong Pagar | Jurong East | 20 September
Shingo Nakano 45’+20, 68’, Shuhei Hoshino 58’, 72’ | Akram Azman 67’
Nakano nodded home Yohei Otake’s cross to put Albirex ahead, before Hoshino took advantage of some untidy Tanjong Pagar defending to double the lead. Akram pulled one back for the Jaguars through a fine header off Rizqin Aniq’s header, but Hoshino then teed up Nakano for the latter’s second before going on to complete his own brace through a poacher’s finish – as Albirex returned to winning ways.
Facts
- Albirex have now won four out of their last five home matches, while Tanjong Pagar’s winless run is extended to eight matches.
- Nakano has scored in each of Albirex’s last five home matches, tallying a total of nine goals.
- Albirex’s Ryhan Stewart made his first SPL appearance since April 2022 in Young Lions’ 3-2 defeat to BG Tampines Rovers.
Albirex: Zainol Gulam (GK), Ryhan Stewart (Kenji Austin 89’), Koki Kawachi, Stevia Egbus Mikuni, Junki Yoshimura (Idraki Adnan 89’), Ho Wai Loon (C) (Arshad Shamim 69’), Yojiro Takahagi, Yohei Otake, Haziq Kamarudin (Daniel Goh 81’), Shuhei Hoshino, Shingo Nakano (Syukri Bashir 81’).
Unused subs: Dylan Pereira (GK), Daniel Martens.
Tanjong Pagar: Prathip Ekamparam (GK) (Fashah Iskandar 45’+1), Akram Azman (C), Syed Akmal, Curtis David Gray (Rizqin Aniq 65’), Faizal Roslan (Stefan Paunović 46’), Zenivio Mota, Tomoki Wada, Rezza Rezky, Shodai Nishikawa, Farid Jafiri (Ihsan Hadi 78’), Sahil Suhaimi (Syahadat Masnawi 78’).
Unused subs: Azim Akbar, Umar Akhbar, Daniel Elfian, Aloysius Pang.
Albirex Niigata (S)’s Ryhan Stewart made his White Swans debut against Tanjong Pagar United, 20 September 2024
Stirring comeback by Young Lions
Young Lions 4-4 Hougang | Jalan Besar | 21 September
Kan Kobayashi 9′, 83′, Fathullah Rahmat 34′, Itsuki Enomoto pen. 77′ | Shodai Yokoyama 11’, Dejan Račić 19′, 45′, Stjepan Plazonja 45+7′
A topsy-turvy game saw Young Lions lead through Kobayashi’s long-range curler, before Hougang turned it around through Yokayama’s wonderfully-struck volley from a tight angle and Račić’s fine finish off Plazonja’s low cross. The home side pulled level with Fathullah rifling one home from 35 yards out, but Račić and Plazonja took advantage of some slack Young Lions defending to score as Hougang led 4-2 at the break. Nonetheless, Nazri Nasir’s side rallied with Enomoto pulling one back from the spot before Kobayashi nodded in Kaisei Ogawa’s corner to claim a share of the spoils.
Facts
- Young Lions came from two goals down to claim a point, a week after letting slip of a two-goal lead to draw against BG Tampines.
- Račić has now netted 11 goals in as many SPL appearances.
- Fathullah scored just his second-ever SPL goal – first since October 2021 in Tanjong Pagar’s 4-4 draw with Albirex.
- Kobayashi netted just his second-ever SPL brace – first since May 2022 in Albirex’s 8-2 win over Geylang.
Young Lions: Aizil Yazid (GK), Syafi Nur Hilman (Andrew Aw 70’), Ryaan Sanizal (C), Kieran Teo, Nur Adam Abdullah, Kan Kobayashi, Kaisei Ogawa, Farhan Zulkifli, Danish Qayyum (Kharin Nadim 70’), Fathullah Rahmat, Itsuki Enomoto.
Unused subs: Travis Ang (GK), Aqil Yazid, Amir Syafiz, Danish Haqimi, Izz Anaqi, Ethan Pinto, Danial Crichton.
Hougang: Zaiful Nizam (GK), Nazrul Nazari (C) (Nazhiim Harman 65’), Ensar Brunčević, Faris Hasić, Jordan Vestering, Ajay Robson (Justin Hui 86’), Shahdan Sulaiman (Petar Banović 73’), Hazzuwan Halim (Gabriel Quak 86’), Stjepan Platonia, Shodai Yokoyama, Dejan Račić.
Unused subs: Kenji Rusydi (GK), Isaac Jonathan (GK), Zamani Zamri, Danie Hafiy.
Young Lions players celebrating a goal against Hougang United, 21 September 2024
DPMM pull off shocker
DPMM 3-2 BG Tampines | Bandar Seri Begawan | 22 September
Miguel Oliveira 14’, 86’, Nazirrudin Ismail 84’ | Glenn Kweh 48’, Boris Kopitović 59’
A superb solo effort from Oliveira put DPMM ahead, but BG Tampines quickly turned things around in the second half with Kweh curling in from just inside the box before Kopitović converted a fine volley off Joel Chew’s cross. It had looked like the Stags would run out winners, before the home side turned the game on its head – Nazirrudin robbed Miloš Zlatković of possession before slotting past Syazwan Buhari, before Oliveira curled home a stunner from the edge of the box to complete a stunning comeback.
Facts
- The result meant there are no longer any unbeaten teams in the league this season.
- BG Tampines are now winless in their last five games in all competitions.
- DPMM are still unbeaten at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium this season, with one win and four draws so far.
- Two out of Nazirrudin’s five SPL goals so far have come against BG Tampines.
- Kopitović is now BG Tampines’ all-time top goalscorer with 106 goals, surpassing Aleksandar Duric’s previous record of 105.
DPMM: Haimie Nyaring (GK), Nazry Aiman, Yura Indera Putera, Nurikhwan Othman (Abdul Mu’iz Sisa 76’), Najib Tarif (C), Azwan Saleh, Abdul Hariz Herman (Hanif Farhan 65’), Gabriel Gama (Hanif Hamir 45’+2), Hakeme Yazid (Naziruddin Ismail 65’), Julio Cruz, Miguel Oliveira.
Unused subs: Ishyra Amin (GK), Syafiq Safiuddin, Faturrahman Embran, Haziq Naqiuddin.
BG Tampines: Syazwan Buhari (GK) (C), Shuya Yamashita, Amirul Adli, Miloš Zlatković, Glenn Kweh (Jared Gallagher 82’), Shah Shahiran, Kyoga Nakamura, Saifullah Akbar (Boris Kopitović 46’), Joel Chew (Yasir Hanapi 61’), Faris Ramli, Seia Kunori.
Unused subs: Ridhuan Barudin (GK), Syahrul Sazali, Caelan Cheong, Thanet Suknate.
BG Tampines Rovers’ Faris Ramli in action against Brunei DPMM, 22 September 2024
Sailors on a roll
Sailors 3-1 Balestier | Bishan | 22 September
Abdul Rasaq Akeem 12’, Christopher van Huizen 26’, Sergio Carmona Pérez 70’ | Jordan Emaviwe 69’
Rasaq applied the finishing touch to Shawal Anuar’s low cross, before Van Huizen curled one in from outside the box as the Sailors led by two at the break. While Emaviwe pulled one back from close range in the second half, Sergio then rifled home the Sailors’ third to seal a neat win.
Facts
- Balestier have kept just one clean sheet in 15 matches this season.
- Rasaq scored in back-to-back SPL games for the first time since July 2023.
- Van Huizen scored his first SPL goal since August 2023.
- Van Huizen’s and Sergio’s goals meant the Sailors now have 13 different scorers for the season – two more than Young Lions, who have 11.
Sailors: Izwan Mahbud (GK), Christopher van Huizen (Hafiz Nor 46’), Lionel Tan, Bailey Wright (C), Toni Datković, Sergio Carmona Pérez, Shawal Anuar (Obren Kljajić 79’), Hami Syahin (Hariss Harun 46’), Song Uiyoung, Haiqal Pashia (Maxime Lestienne 59’), Abdul Rasaq Akeem (Lennart Thy 64’).
Unused subs: Adib Nur Hakim (GK), Zharfan Rohaizad (GK), Bill Mamadou, Nathan Mao.
Balestier: Hafiz Ahmad (GK), Darren Teh (Emmeric Ong 85’), Amer Hakeem (Tajeli Salamat 64’), Jordan Emaviwe, Fudhil I’yadh (Harith Kanadi 46’), Alen Kozar (C) (Syukri Noorhaizam 85’), Ismaïl Sassi, Masahiro Sugita, Elijah Lim (Amiruldin Asraf 46’), Riku Fukashiro, Kodai Tanaka.
Unused subs: Wayne Chew (GK), Irfan Mika’il, Reycredo Bukit, Darren Teo.
Lion City Sailors’ Sergio Carmona Pérez celebrates scoring against Balestier Khalsa, 22 September 2024
Follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram!
