S. LEAGUE - SINGAPORE - NEWS

  

EAGLES CLAW BACK WITH LATE EQUALISER

Written by: Nigel Chin

Geylang International snatched a draw right at the death with a last- minute equaliser to share the spoils with Warriors FC on Saturday evening.

Hafiz Rahim’s first goal of the season had given Warriors the lead for most of the second -half, until Geylang captain Jozef Kaplan popped up to score in the 90th minute.

The Eagles could have count themselves to be unlucky had they lost, having struck the woodwork three times in the game.

While both teams got off to a scrappy start as they struggled to find rhythm, Geylang did enjoy some chances early on.

However, Bruno Castanheira fired over after some good combination play with Shawal Anuar in the fifth minute, before Kaplan and Shawal struck the crossbar and upright respectively in quick succession 17 minutes later.

Warriors had their first real opportunity in the 25th minute after Karlo Ivancic and Hafiz combined to set up Fazrul Nawaz at the far post, but the Singapore international headed wide despite being unmarked.

 

Hafiz crafted out a chance for himself after skipping past two challenges on the edge of the box to create a shooting angle, but fired it narrowly over instead. The Warriors vice-captain did the same once again just before the break, this time after Miroslav Pejic played him in.

It was Geylang who had another golden chance to break the deadlock just after the restart. A brilliant pass from Castanheira on the counter-attack sent Shawal through on goal and the winger managed to evade Warriors custodian Shahul before firing his shot, only to see it cleared off the line by Marcus Wheeler.

Their profligacy was duly punished by Warriors just six minutes later, following a defensive error right at the back. A cross from Fazrul was deflected back into the danger area by Mustaqim Manzur for Hafiz, and the attacking midfielder needed no further invitation to hook it past Yazid Yasin into the Geylang goal.

Geylang could have levelled the score 12 minutes later when Shah Hirul fired a powerful shot from range, only to see it clipping the bottom of the post before bouncing behind.

 

The defending S.League champions gained confidence after scoring the opener and had a number of opportunities to extend their lead, but both Pejic and Fazrul were guilty of wasting those chances.

That set the stage up for Geylang to score their equaliser, and they did so right at the death. A long ball was flicked on towards Shafeeq Faruk by Bruno Castanheira, and the young winger outpaced Irwan Shah down the byline to set Kaplan up for a simple tap-in.

The result meant that Geylang halted ended a streak of six straight defeats in the league, although they still remain rooted at the bottom of the table.

Warriors: Shahul Rayyan (GK), Marcus Wheeler (Azlan Abdul Razak 79’), Daniel Bennett (C), Marin Vidosevic, Irwan Shah, Kevin McCann, Emmeric Ong, Karlo Ivancic, Hafiz Rahim, Miroslav Pejic, Fazrul Nawaz

Geylang International: Yazid Yasin (GK), Khairulnizam Jumahat (Tatsuro Inui 73’), Hafiz Osman, Nor Azli, Syed Thaha (Shafeeq Faruk 80’), Shah Hirul, Mustaqim Manzur, Hafiz Nor, Jozef Kaplan, Shawal Anuar (Huzaifah Aziz 83’), Bruno Castanheira

TIGERS ASSERT TITLE CREDENTIALS AFTER BEATING DPMM

Written By: Kenneth Ho

Balestier Khalsa underlined their status as genuine title challengers for the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League following a 2-1 win over league leaders Brunei DPMM.

The win reduced the gap between Balestier and DPMM to three points, as the Tigers climbed to third spot, level with Warriors FC on 29 points but ahead on a superior goal difference.

Balestier could have easily enjoyed a comfortable lead by the end of the first half, but they failed to put away the chances that came their way.

Zulkiffli Hassim blasted over from close range in the first minute, while Miroslav Kristic screwed his shot wide from six yards out after breaking free of the backline in the seventh minute.

The hosts did open the scoring in the 13th minute, with Robert Pericic on hand to tuck away a rebound after Wardun Yussof had parried Yusiskandar Yusop's shot.

However, they continued to be wasteful in front of goal, with Ignatius Ang blazing over from just inside the box in the 18th minute.

 

Kristic was also guilty of missing a gilt-edged opportunity as he hit the woodwork after Ang had found him with a sweet cut-back just before half-time.

On the other hand, DPMM were struggling to test Zaiful Nizam apart from a Rafael Ramazotti effort in the 28th minute, which the custodian did well to push away.

Shahrazen Said had a glorious opportunity to level matters in the 57th minute, but he sent his effort wide after having only Zaiful to beat.

This allowed Balestier to double their advantage in the 59th minute, with Kristic beating three defenders to get away a shot which went in via the spot.

DPMM's misery were then further compounded in the 79th minute, with Joe Gamble receiving his marching orders following an illegal tackle.

Enjoying the numerical superiority, Balestier were able to pour forward in numbers but Kristic and Ang spurned the chances that came their way during the final moments of the game.

Their misses proved inconsequential even though Paulo Sergio scored right at the death, as the referee soon blew for the final whistle.

Balestier Khalsa: Zaiful Nizam (GK) (C), Yusiskandar Yusop, Hanafi Salleh, Emir Lotinac, Igor Cerina, Zulkiffli Hassim (Hazzuwan Halim 60'), Ridwan Jamil (Poh Yifeng 76'), Robert Pericic, Tarik Cmajcanin, Ignatius Ang, Miroslav Kristic

Brunei DPMM: Wardun Yussof (GK), Sairol Sahari (Maududi Hilmi 68'), Brian McLean, Paulo Sergio, Hendra Azam (Azwan Saleh 46'),  Joseph Gamble, Rosmin Kamis (C), Boris Raspudic, Aminuddin Zakwan, Rafael Ramazotti, Shahrazen Said

•  
• P
• W
• D
• L
• GD
• PTS

• 1
• Brunei DPMM FC
• 17
• 9
• 5
• 3
• 12
• 32

• 2
• Albirex Niigata FC (S)
• 18
• 9
• 4
• 5
• 8
• 31

• 3
• Balestier Khalsa FC
• 17
• 8
• 5
• 4
• 7
• 29

• 4
• Warriors FC
• 18
• 9
• 2
• 7
• -4
• 29

• 5
• Tampines Rovers FC
• 16
• 7
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 25

• 6
• Home United FC
• 18
• 5
• 8
• 5
• 3
• 23

• 7
• Harimau Muda
• 15
• 6
• 1
• 8
• -5
• 19

• 8
• Hougang United FC
• 18
• 4
• 6
• 8
• -7
• 18

• 9
• Courts Young Lions
• 16
• 4
• 3
• 9
• -10
• 15

• 10
• Geylang International FC
• 17
• 3
• 4
• 10
• -10
• 13