Inspired Sailors put dent in Tampines Rovers' Singapore Premier League title bid
Image credit: Singapore Premier League
LION CITY SAILORS 4 - 2 TAMPINES ROVERS: SAILORS CLOSE THE GAP ON WHITE SWANS
16 August 2021, Singapore - AIA Singapore Premier League title hopefuls Lion City Sailors picked up three crucial points at the Jalan Besar Stadium yesterday evening against a lethargic looking Tampines Rovers, winning 4-1, and in so doing put a huge dent in the title ambitions of Gavin Lee's side.
Goals midway through the first half just four minutes apart from the mercurial Gabriel Quak and Stipe Plazibat put the Sailors on the front foot, and Saifullah Akbar's goal just 20 seconds in to the second half all but sealed victory in a match that saw Tampines Rovers chasing shadows for long periods, and not showing signs of recovery since their AFC Champions League debacle.
In the hope of injecting some creativity, Yasir Hanapi, who has been struggling with injury, was introduced in second period for the Stags but it did little to stem the tide and Sailors' onslaught.
Horrific defending from the Tampines Rovers rearguard saw the Sailors make it four just a minute and a half later when goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari came rushing out of his box and totally missed his challenge, leaving Stipe Plazibat with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net for his second of the night.
Image credit: Singapore Premier League
A brilliant striker's finish by Boris Kopitovic on the hour mark to round off a beautiful Tampines Rovers move involving Nakamura and Mehmedovic proved scant consolation, with the Stags no doubt needing to halt their poor run of results to salvage a respectable finish in the Singapore Premier League this season.