Stags unable to reverse poor run of form, Sailors overcome Jaguars test, Hougang back to winning ways
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It was another entralling week of football in the 2021 AIA Singapore Premier League , with no fewer than 14 goal scored across 4 games.
With the National Day Parade postponed to Saturday, 21 August, fixtures were brought forward to commence on Thursday, with Balestier Khalsa kicking off the first SPL fixture of the week against Tampines Rovers at Toa Payoh Stadium on Thursday.
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BALESTIER KHALSA 5-2 TAMPINES ROVERS: SIME ZUZUL HATTRICK
If there was ever a doubt of Sime Zuzul's importance to Balestier Khalsa, they are now well and truly banished.
Not only did the Tigers' star frontman bag a hattrick to make this his best ever goal scoring return in the SPL, but he was also instrumental in Balestier's two other goals, first drawing a save out of Syazwan in the Tampines Rovers goal for Kristijan Krajcek to break the deadlock after just 9 minutes, then laying off the past for Shuhei Hoshino on 64 minutes to register an assist.
For Tampines Rovers, it is back to the drawing board with the Stags yet to find a way to halt their poor run of form ever since the start of the second half of the SPL season.
A couple of moments of genius from playmaker Mehmedovic meant that Tampines were able to draw level at 2-2 in the first half after going 2-0 down, but they were unable to find a response for Balestier's three goals in the second period.
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TANJONG PAGAR UNITED 1-2 LION CITY SAILORS : HAIQAL PASHIA SCREAMER
Lion City Sailors survived a stiff test from Tanjong Pagar United to emerge with all 3 points and keep their title chase on track after a hard fought 2-1 win over Tanjong Pagar United at the Jurong East Stadium.
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The Jaguars were very fortunate not to concede a penalty within the opening 2 minutes of the match when Jorge Fellipe's shot appeared to strike the arm of Shakir Hamzah but the match official waved play on.
Profligate finishing at both ends from Stipe Plazibat and Nishiguchi then saw both players sending their shots way over the bar as chances went a begging but the deadlock was broken 3 minutes before the break when Haiqal Pashia was the first to react to a half cleared ball to send a dipping shot over Zharfan Rohaizad in the Jaguars' goal to break the deadlock.
The Sailors then doubled their lead 10 minutes after the break when Jorge Fellipe sidefooted home his third goal of the season from just outside the six yard box after Stipe Plazibat had nodded down Shahdan Sulaiman's freekick in side the Tanjong Pagar penalty area.
Tanjong Pagar United managed to claw a goal back through Luiz Junior's sublime freekick on 77 minutes, but it proved to be scant consolation for the Jaguars.
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HOUGANG UNITED 2-1 GEYLANG INTERNATIONAL: CHEETAHS BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Hougang United are back to winning ways after a recent slump which saw Clement Teo's side losing 3 of their last 4 matches.
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The Cheetahs had to weather an early storm from Noor Ali's Eagles but poor finishing let Geylang International down and saw both teams enter the break without a goal to show for in spite of good chances, albeit limited to shots from distance.
It was Hougang United who finally opened the scoring on 59 minutes when Shawal Anuar was picked out by half time substitute Shafiq Ghani's cross field pass, and the Cheetah's striker did not disappoint with a cool finish past the onrushing Wayne Chew in Geylang's goal.
Hougang doubled their lead on 76 minutes when Hafiz Abu Sujad's run down the left side of the field ended off with Hougang's number 8 sending a low drive from the edge of the area that creeped in at Wayne Chew's far post.
Geylang were then given a lifeline when Christopher Van Huizen's cross on the right came off the arms of Farhan Zulkifli just inside the penalty area, resulting in match referee Jensen Foo pointing to the penalty spot.
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Amy Recha made no mistake from the penalty spot to reduce the arrears, but it proved not enough as Geylang succumbed to their tenth defeat of the season.