Tampines stay top after derby triumph
Defending Great Eastern-YEO's S.League champions Tampines Rovers moved five points clear at the top of the table after a 2-0 win over Geylang United.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
The Stags headed into Saturday's game at the Clementi Stadium aware that all three points was necessary if they were to stay top for another week, especially with second-placed Albirex Niigata in action on Sunday against Balestier Khalsa.
Ten minutes in, they got off to a dream start when Ahmed Fahmie blasted home after Sead Hadzibulic's header had been parried into his path by Eagles goalkeeper Yazid Yasin.
On the half-hour mark, Tampines doubled their lead through ex-Singapore international Ahmad Latiff, who fired a cracking finish past a hapless Yazid.
However, Geylang, who saw off their local rivals in the semi-finals of the Singapore League Cup just last month, refused to give in and pulled one back eight minutes later, when Jozef Kaplan latched onto a cutback by Michael King and drilled a shot into the bottom corner.
Watch: Highlights: Tampines 2-1 Geylang United... More Videos
Nonetheless, it was not to be for V. Kanan's charges as Tampines held on the to win to move five points clear of Albirex.
In Saturday's other game, Home United reignited their titles hopes with a surprising 3-0 win over Harimau Muda.
Frederic Mendy opened the scoring in the 37th minute when he headed home a Qiu Li corner, and doubled his tally eight minutes after the break, before laying one off for Indra Sahdan Daud in injury-time to cap off an excellent night at the office for the Protectors.
Saturday's Great Eastern-YEO's S.League Results
Tampines Rovers 2-1 Geylang United