Koya’s Worldie Caps Off A Solid Stags Display

A humid Sunday night at Jalan Besar Stadium had the unmistakable feeling of a title six-pointer long before kick-off. And in front of a loud travelling contingent clad in yellow, BG Tampines Rovers delivered a statement.

The Stags held Singapore Premier League leaders Lion City Sailors to a 1-1 draw in a tense top-of-the-table clash, ending the defending champions’ perfect start of ten wins in ten matches while preserving their own unbeaten campaign of seven victories and three draws. The result leaves Tampines seven points off the summit - but with a game in hand - and firmly in the title conversation.

Coming just days after qualifying for the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two Quarter-Finals with a Round of 16 triumph over Vietnamese side Công An Hà Nội, the performance reinforced the growing belief around the club that this could yet become a genuine championship race on multiple fronts.

Interim Head Coach Robert Eziakor made only one change from the mid-week victory, introducing Glenn Kweh on the flank in place of Yuki Kobayashi. Jacob Maher retained his spot alongside Shuya Yamashita in central defence with Irfan Najeeb and Takeshi Yoshimoto at full-back. The midfield trio of Shah Shahiran, Koya Kazama, and Seiga Sumi supported forwards Trent Buhagiar and the club’s top scorer, Hide Higashikawa.

Perhaps the most eye-catching selection, however, remained between the posts.

Sixteen-year-old Young Buck Kasey Rogers made his second successive professional start, with captain Syazwan Buhari still recovering from injury. Having debuted against continental opposition days earlier, the teenager faced the league’s most expensively assembled side - and looked completely unfazed.

Sailors Strike First

The early stages reflected the magnitude of the occasion: cagey, physical, and often fragmented. Tampines found it difficult to sustain an attacking rhythm, with promising moves frequently disrupted, prompting audible frustration from the travelling supporters who nevertheless filled the away end in strong numbers.

The deadlock was finally broken midway through the first half, though it went the Sailors’ way.

Dutch playmaker Bart Ramselaar was afforded space on the right to deliver a teasing cross, and German striker Lennart Thy connected with his head to guide it beyond Kasey and give the hosts the lead.

The Stags immediately raised the tempo in search of a swift response, but in doing so nearly left themselves exposed. Ramselaar once again found space to influence proceedings, slipping a dangerous low cross into the path of Thy, who seemed destined to double the advantage. This time, however, Kasey stood tall. Beaten once by the German forward, but not twice. The young custodian produced a sharp, instinctive save to keep Tampines firmly in the contest and underline his growing presence on the big stage.

Flashpoint Before The Break

Tempers flared in the 37th minute in a controversial moment that could have altered the contest.

Former Stags midfielder Kyoga Nakamura challenged Takeshi for a high ball and appeared to catch the Japanese defender in the face with his elbow. Referee Jansen Foo produced only a yellow card - a decision supported by VAR, and which was greeted with disbelief by the away bench and supporters. To their frustration, the Japanese defender, who suffered a bloody gash from the impact, was unable to continue and had to be substituted, being replaced by Amirul Haikal.

Nevertheless, the visitors pushed on, and found their moment just before half-time - and it came from a familiar source.

Stunning Response

In the closing moments of the first half, Koya stepped up for a long-range free-kick. The midfielder struck the ball with precision and power, sending an unstoppable drive beyond the Sailors goalkeeper Ivan Sušak and into the net, as the away end erupted.

It was the second time this season Koya had beaten the Croatian from a direct free-kick, having also done so in the Stags’ memorable 4-1 Community Shield victory in August 2025 - a performance that delivered the club its first silverware of the campaign.

A Tactical Stalemate

The second half resumed in much the same vein as the first - tight, tactical and defined by defensive discipline. Neither side was willing to overcommit, with both backlines standing firm to blunt the other’s attacking threat.

Nine minutes after the restart, Hide almost produced a moment of déjà vu from his midweek ACL Two heroics. Meeting Glenn’s inviting cross with a trademark diving header, Hide directed his header goalward, but Sušak was well-positioned to gather comfortably.

Despite their attacking pedigree, the Sailors struggled to truly stretch Kasey between the posts. Their clearest opening fell to substitute Shawal Anuar, who arrived at the far post to meet Lennart Thy’s driven low cross with his first involvement of the evening. Yet Shuya showcased superb defensive awareness, sliding in at full stretch to intercept and preserve parity.

At the other end, Tampines threatened with greater incision. A slick exchange between Seiga and Koya split the lines and released Hide in behind, but his powerful drive towards the near post was met by a strong left hand from Sušak, who reacted sharply to deny him.

In the end, despite the intensity and flashes of quality, neither side could land the decisive blow, and the spoils were shared in a result that keeps the title race finely poised.

A Title Race Ignited

The final whistle confirmed a share of the spoils, but the psychological victory arguably belonged to Tampines.

They had halted the champions’ flawless run. And they had done so days after a demanding continental fixture.

Interim Head Coach Robert remained defiant afterward, insisting his side can sustain the challenge.

“We have shown that we can compete with them,” he said. “I do not see any difference between us. We have the firepower to compete with them, and we are aiming to get the title.”

After a solid shift at the back, Jacob remained optimistic about The Stags’ title chances following a potentially pivotal week. When asked if the side still believed it could challenge the Sailors in spite of the seven-point gap, the 25-year-old was emphatic.

“Of course, I think we have proven it,” said Jacob. “Not only in the league, where we are unbeaten, but we went to the Quarter-Finals of the ACL Two too - this is not by luck. We are not here by chance. We deserve it. We work hard every game, and we have the quality.”

Between this result and the earlier Community Shield triumph, the Stags have proven they can go toe-to-toe with the league’s most resourced club on any given day.

Whether they can maintain that pursuit while balancing an ongoing continental campaign remains to be seen, but BG Tampines Rovers made one thing abundantly clear. The Sailors are no longer sailing alone at the top.

Up Next

The Stags return to league action on Friday (February 27) at 8.30 pm, hosting Hougang United at Our Tampines Hub. They will aim to build on the positive momentum from the past week, close the gap on the Sailors, and head into their crucial ACL Two Quarter-Final first leg clash against Bangkok United on March 5 in good form.