Harimau Muda beat Gombak in opener

Smart finishes either side of half-time by the hugely impressive Thamil Arasu and Wan Zaharulnizam, proved enough for Harimau Muda to claim all three points on a night Singapore's elite division kicked off amid a modicum of razzmatazz and featuring a Malaysian side for the first time since its formation in 1996.

True, Harimau Muda will face sterner tests than Gombak this season, but the manner of their hustling, bustling and utterly professional win will no doubt add further fuel to the argument of those touting Ong Kim Swee's charges as one of the dark horses to win Singapore's elite division.

Bright, neat in possession and combative throughout, the Malaysians came close to breaking the deadlock not once, but twice in the 13th minute, Wan Zack Haikal failing on both occasions to beat the alert Gombak goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam when through on goal.

The S.League newcomers did not, however, have to wait long for the breakthrough to come.

Just three minutes later, a speculative ball from the back found the ever willing Thamil who brought the ball down superbly, before driving into the box and firing past Nizam with aplomb. It was the very least Harimau Muda deserved.

Gombak, with striker Jung Hee-bong all too often ploughing a lone furrow, huffed and puffed in a bid to respond.

Shafuan Sutohmoh's tame 20th minute shot, an effort he dragged wide of Izham Tarmizi's left hand post when played in by Jung's delightful pass, proved to be the closest they would come in a first half dominated by an impressive Harimau Muda side.

After the break, Gombak, now coached by K Balagumaran following Darren Stewart's departure to Balestier Khalsa, briefly threatened to restore parity, but Mustaqim Manzur's mazy run shortly after the restart ended with the midfielder failing even to unleash a shot.

Showing no signs of fatigue despite playing a 2012 Olympic qualifier in Bahrain at the weekend, Harimau Muda continued to press.

Man of the Match Gary Robbat's fierce 76th minute drive deflected narrowly over the bar, before Zaharulnizam sealed the deal for Harimau Muda by bundling in captain Mahali Jasuli's free-kick at the far post.

While hope springs eternal for Gombak that, on this showing at least, they have a slim chance of finish higher than the sixth place they achieved last time out, the night was all about a talented Harimua Muda side and thoughts of just what they could achieve in Singapore.

For now at least, the sky certainly appears to be limit.