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Lions maintain perfect record and progress to knock-out stages for the first time in nine years Image via Football Association of Singapore 15 December 2021, Singapore - Singapore has booked a place in the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup football tournament for the first time in nine years. A 2-0 win over Timor Leste at the Singapore National Stadium last night was enough to book a last four berth, with Thailand also progressing from Group A with a maximum 9 points from the first 3 games. On the night of defender Safuwan Baharudin's 100th cap for Singapore, Singapore were unconvincing for lengthy periods, and had few chances in the first period but did enough to ride out the storm and earn the crucial 3 points to seal progress. The stage was set when Adam Swandi took all of just 4 minutes to open the scoring for the home side, stepping up to sweep the ball into the bottom corner and give Singapore the lead. It was his first start for Singapore in this tournament. Image via Football Association of Singapore There was no replica of the 7-0 thrashing by the Philippines, with Timor Leste showing greater resolution in defence, and chances were at a premium for the rest of the half for Singapore. Ikhsan Fandi, who scored two goals in the opening match against Myanmar could have added his third for the tournament but the width of the woodwork separated him from glory. Image via Football Association of Singapore The win was finally wrapped up for the Lions via a deflected shot by Shakir Hamzah after Shahdan Sulaiman's delivery from a set piece. The Lions will next face Thailand in the final group match this Saturday, which will determine which of the two sides will top Group A. The AFF Suzuki Cup will run till 1 January next year, and tickets for the tournament can be purchased at TicketMaster.sg #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporeFootball #AFFSuzukiCup #SuzukiCup2020

Singapore's World Number 22 on brink of becoming World Champion after defeating Denmark's World Number 3 Anders Antonsen in semi-finals Image via Badminton Photo 19 December 2021, Huelva, Spain - Singapore's World number 22 Loh Kean Yew is on step away from becoming the World Champion after he calmly disposed of Denmark's world number 3 Anders Antonsen in straight sets 23-21, 21-14 in the men’s singles semi-finals of the BWF World Championships to set up a final against India's Kidambi Srikanth. Despite a scare that saw Antonsen claw back 5 consecutive points in the first set, Loh saw out the match before taking the second set 21-14 for an historic Singapore win. First Singaporean to Medal at World Championships Loh had already made history for Singapore by qualifying for the semi-finals of the event a day earlier, becoming the first Singaporean to medal at the World Championships. Yeo Jia Min had reached the women’s singles quarter-finals in the previous edition of the World Championships, while Ronald Susilo was also eliminated in the same stage in 2007. Image via Badminton Photo This time, Singaporean world number 22 Loh Kean Yew overcame Antonsen to guarantee a top two finish and a flourishing end to an unbelievable year for the 24 year-old. In the best form of his life, Loh had already defeated a string of top line opponents in recent weeks, including Olympic Champion Viktor Axelsen in the opening round of this tournament, to avenge his Final defeat at the Indonesia Open Final in Bali last month. He had also defeated former World number 1 Kento Momota in that tournament. Image via Badminton Photo #SportPlusSG #Badminton #BWFWorldChampionships #TeamSingapore

Albirex in comeback win over Hougang, Young Lions triumph in bottom of table clash, Eagles cement back-to-back wins Image credit: Singapore Premier League It was goals galore this weekend in round 13 of the AIA Singapore Premier League. Champions Albirex Niigata are still undefeated after coming back from a goal down to claim all three points against Hougang United, who are witnessing their good work in the first half of the season quickly undone with two consecutive defeats. In the battle of the cellar dwellars at Toa Payoh Stadium, Young Lions emerged victorious against Balestier Khalsa in a five-goal thriller that saw them claim their first league win of the 2021 AIA Singapore Premier League season, while Geylang International continued their imperious second half of the season form with yet another 3 points, this time against Tanjong Pagar United. Image credit: Singapore Premier League HOUGANG UNITED 1-2 ALBIREX NIIGATA: KONDO WONDER GOAL There was plenty to play for coming into this game, with Hougang United looking to bounce back after their heavy defeat last week against Tanjong Pagar United, while Albirex Niigata were looking to return to winning ways after being held by Lion City Sailors. Both teams were seeking their first win of the second half of the SPL season, but it was Hougang United who drew first blood on 29 minutes when Kishon Philip pounced on the edge of the box from a cut back by overlapping teammate Nazrul Ahmad Nazari to beat Takahiro Koga at his near post and put his side in front. Image credit: Singapore Premier League Both sides had threatened with good chances throughout the first half up to that point, and it was from a rare goalkeeping error by Koga that Hougang profited. The Champions would not be denied for long however, as they made their pressure count just five minutes into the second period, as Kuraba Kondo cleverly slid in to dink the ball over an onrushing Izwan Mahbud to level the scores. The goal of the match was still to come, and it duly arrived when Takahiro Tezuka sent a delightful lob from just inside the box over a stranded Izwan Mahbud into goal, clipping the underside of the bar as it went in to seal all three points for the White Swans. Image credit: Singapore Premier League BALESTIER KHALSA 2-3 YOUNG LIONS: TOA PAYOH FIVE GOAL THRILLER With 5 points separating the two bottom sides in the table, the Young Lions knew that this was a match they had to win in order to stay within reach of the the Balestier Tigers. They were gifted with the perfect opportunity just 15 minutes into the match, when a clumsy tackle by Balestier defender Amer Hakeem on Ilhan Fandi gifted them a penalty kick. Hami Syahin stepped up to convert from the spot but only just, with Balestier Khalsa goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam diving the right way to get a touch of the ball on its way into the bottom corner. 18 minutes later, the Young Lions doubled their lead when Zaiful Nizam spilled a routine save from a free kick, before parrying Ryhan Stewart's follow up shot across goal into the path of an onrushing Daniel Goh who made it two. The Young Lions continued to threaten with great chances created by the 16-year old Khairin Nadim and Ilhan Fandi. The Tigers finally reduced the arrears a minute into the second half when Kristijan Krajcek's left foot screamer could only be tipped onto the post by Ridhwan Fikri, and it was left to Hazzuwan Halim to nod the ball into a gaping net. Hazzuwan almost got his second of the match 15 minutes later when Zuzul's good work down the right set him up up, but he duly sent his shot wide. Image credit: Singapore Premier League The Young Lions's pressure on the Balestier goal continued to mount, with Joel Chew and Ilhan Fandi both having a go at Zaiful Nizam's goal who redeemed himself from his first half errors with a couple of great saves to keep his side in the game. Image credit: Singapore Premier League The Young Lions put the game beyond the Tigers on 85 minutes when Harhys Stewart side footed Hami Syahin's low cross into goal from the edge of the six yard box. It was not the end of the goals or the action however, as Sime Zuzul raced clear of the Young Lions defence just minutes later to cooly finish past Ridhwan Fikri for a grandstand finish, but it proved to be too little too late and scant consolation for Balestier. Image credit: Singapore Premier League TANJONG PAGAR UNITED 1-3 GEYLANG INTERNATIONAL: ILHAN NOOR INSPIRES EAGLES Tanjong Pagar defender Shakir Hamzah endured a torrid debut for his new club, scoring an own goal and seeing his side concede 3 goals inside the opening 37 minutes. Both the Jaguars and Eagles came into this fixture bouyed by wins in round 12 of the SPL, with Tanjong Pagar United making history by thrashing Hougang United 4-1 and claiming their first win over the Cheetahs for the first time in 8 years, while Geylang also got their second half of the season off to a good start with a 3-1 come from behind win against Balestier Khalsa. It was therefore totally unexpected to witness this match effectively won by the Eagles within the first 40 minutes, led by an inspired Ilhan Noor. The first goal of the match duly arrived on 13 minutes, when a Geylang corner on the left by Amy Recha was fisted away Zharfan Rohaizad but only as far as Barry Maguire, whose left footed cross found its way through for Ilhan Noor to nod home. Ilhan Noor was then involved again for the second goal when his long punt downfield caused confusion in the Tanjong Pagar defence, which saw Shakir Hamzah heading the ball straight into his own goal with Zharfan Rohaizad nowhere to be seen. Image credit: Singapore Premier League Minutes later, it was three for Geylang as Ilhan Noor was the quickest to react in the box, slamming the ball home after Zharfan Rohaizad could only parry Matheus Moresche's shot off a Amy Recha cutback. Morseche continued pressing for a goal and came close early in the second period when his left foot drive drew a save out of Zharfan down the left. The Jaguars finally pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Luiz Junior turned on a six pence to fire home after Blake Riccuito had played him through with a flick on off Khairul Amri's pass. The Jaguars were lucky not to concede more however, as the Eagles went close again on 77 minutes when Matheus Moresche forced another top drawer save from Zharfan Rohaizad following another marauding run down the left and Amy Recha could only fire his left footed volley from the rebound over the bar. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Late goal by Luiz Junior rescues Jaguars from defeat against Young Lions Image credit: SPL Facebook 17 July 2021, Jurong East Stadium - A late goal by Brazilian Luiz Junior rescued a point for Tanjong Pagar United after Hami Syahin had put the Young Lions ahead from the penalty spot midway through the first half. Following a two month hiatus, the AIA Singapore Premier League commenced with a replay of the fixture between Tanjong Pagar United and the Young Lions, with the previous meeting between the two sides being abandoned due to inclement weather. Despite dominating early exchanges, a clumsy challenge by Jaguars custodian Zharfan Rohaizad on Zamani Zamri in the penalty box midway through the first half gifted the Young Lions a penalty, and Hami Syahin made no mistake to put his side ahead. The Jaguars were then fortunate to stay just a goal down after Daniel Goh was denied with his effort cleared off the line following a clever corner kick from Young Lions teammate Joel Chew. Tanjong Pagar United continued to threaten from set pieces throughout the first period, with Reo Nishiguchi's free kick on the left side of the area drawing a smart save out of Ridhwan Fikri. The Young Lions continued to ride their luck and were fortunate to remain in the lead 10 minutes into the second period when a surging run and cut back down the left by Shodai Nishikawa evaded everyone in the six yard box. Image credit: SPL Facebook Minutes later, Jaguars forward Nishiguchi found himself in the clear down the left but could only find the side netting as Tanjong Pagar's profligacy in front of goal continued to haunt them. They eventually found the much needed breakthrough when Luis Junior pounced on a mistake by the Young Lions rearguard to send his shot into the far corner to level the match. The Young Lions absorbed a late surge and pressure from the home side as Tanjong Pagar United continued to pepper shots at the Young Lions goal, but were unable to find a winner that would have seen them go six points clear of the Young Lions and leapfrog Balestier Khalsa (5th) and Geylang International (6th) . #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Singapore Premier League outfit Lion City Sailors have announced 2020 AFC Champions League winner Kim Do-hoon as its new head coach this week Image credit: Lion City Sailors Facebook Jalan Besar Stadium - Singapore Premier League (SPL) outfit Lion City Sailors have announced Kim Do-hoon as its new head coach this week. The South Korean led Ulsan Hyundai FC to victory in the 2020 AFC Champions League in December 2020 to round-up a hugely successful four-year spell in which he also led the K League 1 side to the Korean FA Cup and two runners-up finishes. He joins the Sailors on a two-and-a-half year deal. Arriving nine (9) weeks after former Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar's mid-season departure for Thailand's BG Pathum, Kim is looking to "accelerate the process" of the Sailors progress in its aspirations of becoming a competitive regional powerhouse. Image credit: Lion City Sailors Facebook Lion City Sailors have been without a Head Coach since 27 April 2021, during which time Robin Chitrakar was the interim caretaker manager of the Sailors, who currently sit second in the Singapore Premier League table after 11 matches, just a single point adrift of league leaders Albirex Niigata. The league is slated to resume on 17 July 2021 after a month-long international break, with the Sailors returning to action in a mouth watering top-of-the-table clash with Albirex Niigata at Jurong East Stadium on 23 July with Kim at the helm. Image credit: Lion City Sailors Facebook Speaking to Lion City Sailors' official media, Kim is optimistic about raising the overall level of football in Singapore, beyond just chasing success with the Sailors. He also hopes to help the Sailors reach their potential, and believes from his initial few training sessions with the Sailors that the team has what it takes to meet his high demands in pursuit of their domestic and regional aspirations. “There is still a lot of room for improvement. But if we work together as a team and put in the effort, we can become a force in Asia in due time,” the 50 year-old shared with the Lion City Sailors' official website. “There are no shortcuts to success, but I’m here to help us achieve our goals in a faster manner.” For now the short-term target for Kim is to spearhead the Sailors to their first-ever Singapore Premier League (SPL) title since the club's 2020 inception. No local club side has won the SPL since 2014, with the now defunct Warriors FC last Singapore team to crowned as champions of Singapore's top flight. Image credit: Lion City Sailors Facebook #SportPlusSG #Football #LionCitySailors #KimDoHoon #SingaporePremierLeague

Stags unable to reverse poor run of form, Sailors overcome Jaguars test, Hougang back to winning ways Image credit: Singapore Premier League 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. Image credit: Singapore Premier League 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. Image credit: Singapore Premier League 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. Image credit: Singapore Premier League 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. Image credit: Singapore Premier League 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. Image credit: Singapore Premier League 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. Image credit: Singapore Premier League 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. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

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. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Albirex Niigata favourites to win SPL as Lion City Sailors drop more points, Ilhan Fandi rescues Young Lions Image credit: Singapore Premier League LION CITY SAILORS 1 - 1 HOUGANG UNITED: TITLE HOPES DASHED An Anders Aplin header off an Hougang United freekick early in the second half has thrown a wrench into the works of Lion City Sailors' SPL title pursuit, with the Sailors now facing an uphill battle in their ambitions to become the first local club side to be crowned as champions of Singapore's top flight since 2014. Image credit: Singapore Premier League Despite a late equaliser by Stipe Plazibat for the Sailors, failure to claim all 3 points as the 2021 AIA Singapore Premier League season enters its final month could prove costly, with the second placed Sailors now trailing champions and league leaders Albirex Niigata by 5 points, albeit with a game in hand. With just four matches left to play, Albirex could seal the SPL title before the final weekend should the Sailors drop any more points over the coming weeks - as pressure on coach Kim mounts in the Sailors camp. Plazibat files police report Lion City Sailors forward Stipe Plazibat has filed a police report on 28 August, after he was the victim of text abuse via social media Instagram. Plazibat tweeted a screenshot of a series of offensive messages which were sent to him on his Instagram direct messages after he scored the equaliser in the Sailors' 1-1 draw against the Cheetahs. The abusive comments made reference to him as a monkey, and were also directed at his wife and mother. Image credit: Singapore Premier League GEYLANG INTERNATIONAL 2-3 YOUNG LIONS: LATE ILHAN MAGIC Ilhan Fandi rescued Young Lions from the jaws of defeat, scoring two late goals to turn the match on its head after the Young Lions had trailed the Geylang Eagles 1-2 at Our Tampines Hub. An early Jacob Mahler penalty for the Young Lions was cancelled out within minutes by the irrepresible Amy Recha, who is enjoying his best spell as a professional footballer to date, and received a call up to the national side this week following his recent performances. Matheus Moresche's tap in 10 minutes into the second period gave the Eagles wind under their wings and made them favourites to win the match, but it was not to be as Ilhan Fandi flipped the script by finding the net twice in the last 10 minutes to complete the turnaround for the Young Lions. Image credit: Singapore Premier League ALBIREX NIIGATA 4 - 0 BALESTIER KHALSA: SUPER SUB KONDO Abirex Niigata continued their imperious form following their defeat against Tanjong Pagar United, crushing Balestier Khalsa at the Jurong East Stadium in clinical fashion to cement their label as favourites to retain the Singapore Premier League title. Following a goalless first half, an early goal assisted by half time substitute Kuraba Kondo in the second period sparked the White Swans into life, and he found the net just 4 minutes later from all of 20 yards to double Albirex's lead. Kondo added his second of the night from the edge of the area with a speculative effort, before a horrible goalkeeping error by Riki Kimura gifted the White Swans a fourth as Ryora Taniguchi raced through to slide the ball into an empty net. Image credit: Singapore Premier League TAMPINES ROVERS 2 - 2 TANJONG PAGAR UNITED: STAGS AND JAGUARS SHARE THE SPOILS Tampines Rovers' second half of season fortunes in the Singapore Premier League have yet to truly turn the bend after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Tanjong Pagar United at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday evening. Irfan Najeeb put the Stags in the lead on 19 minutes, but Tampines Rovers soon found themselves level again just 10 minutes later when Shakir Hamzah levelled for Tajong Pagar United. Marc Ryan Tan restored the lead again for the Stags, but in what turned out to be a real see-saw of a match the Jaguars restored parity on the stroke of half time through Anaqi Ismit. Tampines Rovers' have lost four of their last six matches, and are currently 5 points adrift of fourth placed Hougang United. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Khairul Amri at the double as Tanjong Pagar stage second half comeback to punish Noor Ali's Eagles Image credit: Singapore Premier League GEYLANG INTERNATIONAL 2 - 4 TANJONG PAGAR UNITED: JAGUARS CONTINUE RESURGENCE 15 August 2021, Singapore - Tanjong Pagar United continued their march up the table and second half of season revival with yet another stunning victory at Our Tampines Hub yesterday. A late double by veteran Singapore forward Khairul Amri saw the Jaguars complete a stunning turnaround in a pulsating six goal thriller that initially saw Geylang International race into a two goal lead in the first half courtesy of an Anaqi Ismit own goal and Amy Recha's seventh goal of the season. However, as has been the case in recent weeks, the Jaguars' belief shone through, and they clawed their way back 3 minutes before the break when Shodai Nishikawa outpaced the Geylang defence to drill home the first. Just minutes after the break Luiz Junior, who scored a contender for goal of the season last week against Albirex Niigata, turned provider and laid the ball on a plate for Reo Nishiguchi to level the scores. Image credit: Singapore Premier League It was then time for Khairul Amri to take centre stage, when he first stooped home to head home a Rusyaidi Salime freekick, before sealing the the Jaguar's third league win in four games when he slammed home Luiz Junior's through pass off the post to put the result beyond reach of Geylang International. Image credit: Singapore Premier League #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Clinical White Swans' make Clement Teo's Cheetahs pay for defensive mistakes Image credit: Singapore Premier League ALBIREX NIIGATA 4 - 1 HOUGANG UNITED: CHAMPIONS BOUNCE BACK 13 August 2021, Singapore - If there was ever a definitive mark of champions, it's the ability to bounce back from defeats. Fresh from suffering their first defeat of the season and witnessing their 13 match unbeaten run come to an end, Albirex Niigata passed their test against Hougang United, themselves pushing for a top 3 spot, with flying colours. It took the White Swans all of just 2 minutes to break the deadlock at Jurong East Stadium, as defender Reo Kunimoto evaded his marker with a run to the near post and leapt highest to divert his header past Izwan Mahbud in the Hougang United goal off an early Albirex corner kick. The early goal sparked Hougang United into action, and they proceeded to send wave after wave of attack on the Albirex goal in the first period. The league's top scorer Tomoyuki Doi and Kaishu Yamazaki both came close to leveling for the Cheetah's - with Doi's stinging effort from outside the area on 8 minutes sending Koga scrambling to tip the ball over the bar, and then just 5 minutes later with a deflected effort that went marginally wide after cutting inside his marker. Yamazuki's ambitious attempt was also deflected just wide of Koga's goal. The champions Albirex were not to be outdone in terms of creativity, and matched Hougang in carving out good chances, peppering the Hougang goal with shots - first with Kuraba Kondo's half volley on the hour drawing a smart save out of the Izwan Mahbud, and then again on 76 minutes after Kondo skipped past a sea of Hougang defenders. Image credit: Singapore Premier League The White Swans' pressure told as again off a corner kick they doubled their lead - Reo Kunimoto scoring his second off a mirror image of his first half goal, off Takahiro Tezuka's outswinger. That lead was reduced just 2 minutes later, when Hougang finally broke their duck with a free kick deep inside Albirex's half, as Mahiro Takahashi sent the ball into his own net from Shafiq Ghani's left footed cross. The Cheetah's desire to find an equaliser however left them exposed, and Albirex Niigata punished them with devastating effect - Nagasawa first teeing up Yasuhiro Hanada to rifle home a third from just inside the Hougang penalty box, before Hanada turned creator to set up Tezuka to slot the ball home into an empty net just 2 minutes later to compound Clement Teo and Hougang United's woes. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Jaguars end Albirex's 13 match unbeaten run, Hougang end winless run, Sailors held by Balestier Image credit: Singapore Premier League The 2021 AIA Singapore Premier League season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting ones in recent times, and we are not complaining. Who knows? We may even see the first local club side win Singapore's football top flight for the first time since 2014 - when Warriors FC were last crowned as S-League champions. Since then, Singapore's only professional football league has witnessed the title being shared between Albirex Niigata and Brunei DPMM no fewer than six times, four of those titles going the way of the Japanese football club. Image credit: Singapore Premier League ALBIREX NIIGATA 1-2 TANJONG PAGAR UNITED: LUIZ JUNIOR WONDER GOAL What an incredible second half of the season Tanjong Pagar United is having. Having trounced Hougang United 4-1 on their home turf a fortnight ago, they pulled off another major upset with a classy 2-1 win over champions Albirex Niigata at Jurong East Stadium on Friday. The result was made all the more impressive as the White Swans were unbeaten for the entire 2021 AIA Singapore Premier League season up to that point. It took a late wonder goal from in form Brazilian hitman Luiz Junior to settle the affair after the White Swans had drawn level with a Shuya Yamashita header off an Albirex corner kick just minutes earlier on 80 minutes. Tanjong Pagar United had earlier taken the lead through Reo Nishiguchi's sixth goal of the season on 33 minutes. Image credit: Singapore Premier League YOUNG LIONS 0-1 HOUGANG UNITED: CHEETAHS BACK TO WINNING WAYS Hougang United finally put an end to their miserable second half of season run of form with a hard fought 1-0 win over a 10-man Young Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium. A solitary goal from the league's top scorer Tomoyuki Doi was enough to settle the affair in a game that was not short on chances for both sides, but saw a combination of profligate finishing and good goalkeeping keep the scoreline down. Image credit: Singapore Premier League Doi was in the thick of the action, and should probably have gotten more than his solitary goal if not for the heroics of Ridhwan Fikri in the Young Lions goal. At the other end of the pitch, Izwan Mahbud was also called into action and had to stick a foot out to deny Ilhan Fandi a goal on 53 minutes from point blank range. The match turned on its head after Hami Syahin was sent off on 71 minutes to leave the Young Lions with just 10 men to play out the remainder of the match. The numerical advantage was telling, as the Cheetahs pressed forward and on 77 minutes a mistake from Young Lions custodian Ridhwan Fikri saw Shawal Anwar putting the ball on a plate for Tomoyuki Doi to finish off the underside of the bar and break Young Lions hearts. Image credit: Singapore Premier League BALESTIER KHALSA 1-1 LION CITY SAILORS: TIGERS DENY SAILORS VICTORY Balestier Khalsa were denied a famous victory on Sunday evening, when a late goal from the penalty spot by Stipe Plazibat rescued a point for title chasing Lion City Sailors. Image credit: Singapore Premier League Starting the day just a point adrift of Albirex Niigata, the Sailors knew that victory over the Tigers would put them in the drivers' seat in the title race. Their job was far from easy, and after missing a host of chances in the first half, their frustration was compounded when Sime Zuzul was first to react to Shuhei Hoshino's flick on to score past Hassan Sunny in the Sailors' goal. Both Zaiful Nizam and Hassan Sunny had to pull off top drawer saves to deny Shahdan Sulaiman and Sime Zuzul and keep their teams in the game. The Sailors' mounting pressure eventually told when a goal bound header from Jorge Fellipe struck the flailing arm of Ensar Bruncevic on the edge of the six yard box, which saw the Balestier player sent off, and gifted Sailors' star striker Stipe Plazibat with the chance to level from the spot to rescue a point for the Sailors. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Tanjong Pagar United striker and Tampines Rovers winger bid farewell to their clubs over social media Image via ActiveSG 2 October 2021, Singapore - Tanjong Pagar United's Brazilian striker Luiz Junior and Tampines Rovers winger Armin Bosnjak will not feature in the 2022 edition of the AIA Singapore Premier League. An announcement on Tanjong Pagar United Football Club's Instagram page read: Thank you, Junior! Our Brazilian craque will head home tonight to reunite with his family and meet his newborn daughter. The striker is also carrying a slight injury and will therefore miss the club's final Singapore Premier League game. Image via AIA Singapore Premier League Luiz Junior has played a pivotal role in Tanjong Pagar United's second half of season revival in the 2021 AIA Singapore Premier League, scoring 11 goals in 18 appearances with 2 assists, including a goal of the season contender. Bosnjak bids farewell to Tampines fans on social media Tampines Rovers' Armin Bosnjak will also not continue with his current club after a single season. The 27 year-old Montenigrin left winger has contributed with 11 assists this season, and is the overall assists leader of the Singapore Premier League. Image via AIA Singapore Premier League Bosnjak's farewell post on his Instagram page read: I want to thank the fans, management, coaches and my teammates for everything they have given me in the past year and wish them luck in the next season. It was a great experience to play here, there were good and bad moments but it's football!@tampinesrovers Image via AIA Singapore Premier League #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball