S-League: Tampines held, Home fire blanks in season opener

Friday's S.League Results
Albirex Niigata 3-2 SAFFC
Home United 0-0 Balestier Khalsa

Thursday's S.League Results
Gombak United 0-2 Harimau Muda
Hougang United 1-1 Tanjong Pagar United

Thursday and Friday Roundup

There was no joy for perennial challengers SAFFC as they were beaten by Albirex Niigata 3-2 in their opening game of the 2012 Great Eastern-YEO's S.League season.

SAFFC went into Friday evening's game as favourites however the White Swans drew first blood in the 26th minute when midfielder Musashi Okuyama found the back of the net, before striker Toshikazu Soya added a second just before halftime.

The game then looked all but over when Soya grabbed his second on the hour mark to put Albirex 3-0 up, but the Warriors were given a glimmer of hope when Croatian hitman Mislav Karoglan pulled one back from the spot.

Nonetheless, the Albirex defence stood firm to hold on to all three points, although they had to survive a late scare when Shukor Zailan added a second for SAFFC at the death with a screamer.

Last season's runners-up Home United looked uncharateristically toothless up front in Friday's other game, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by minnows Balestier Khalsa.

With star striker Frederic Mendy and new signing Shotaro Ihata - who scored more than 40 goals between them last season - leading the line, the Protectors were expected to put Balestier to the sword. However, Lee Lim-saeng's men struggled to break down the visitors' defence for the most part, and ultimately had to settle for a point.

On Thursday, league newcomers Harimau Muda recorded an impressive 2-0 win over Gombak United with goals coming from Thamil Arasu and Wan Zaharulnizam , while Hougang United and Tanjong Pagar United played out a 1-1 draw.

Canadian striker Jordan Webb gave Hougang the lead in the 23rd minute, but Takaya Kawanabe equalised eight minutes later to earn the Jaguars a share of the spoils.

Sunday's S.League Results
Rams make wasteful Young Lions pay
Courts Young Lions were left to rue a host of missed chances as Woodlands Wellington recorded a smash-and-grab win at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday.

Rams striker Moon Soon Ho grabbed the only goal of the game from the spot in the 48th minute.

DPMM hold champs Tampines in opener

Both teams showed the same desire from the get go with end to end goal mouth action. However it was DPMM FC that broke the deadlock in the 38th minute through Basiru Osman who scored with a header.

Rovers finally got it right in the 48th minute when they equalised through a thunderous Mustafic Fahrudin freekick from 25 yards out.

DPMM surged forward in search of the winning goal and they were rewarded in the 69th minute when Croatian midfielder Ivan Jerkovic caught the Tampines custodian off guard with his well-taken shot from outside the penalty box.

Just as the match was nearing an end, Tampines veteran Jamil Ali latched onto a rebound off DPMM's goalkeeper Wardun Yusoff in the 90th minute and cleverly flicked the ball into an empty net to ensure his team headed back home with a point in the bag.


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