Late Trent Goal in Pathum Thani Gives Stags Hope

Tampines Rovers suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Bangkok United in the first leg of their AFC Champions League (ACL) Two Quarter-Final tie at Pathum Thani Stadium on Thursday evening.

Early goals from Nebojša Kosović and Picha Autra handed the hosts a two-goal advantage within the opening twenty minutes, but Trent Buhagiar’s late strike ensured the Stags remain firmly in contention ahead of next week’s return leg in Singapore. Bangkok United will also be without centre-back Philipe Maia through suspension after he picked up a yellow card in the tie, while goalscorer Picha was forced off through injury.

Despite it being Tampines’ first defeat in the competition this season, the away goal has kept belief alive that the tie can still be turned around.

One Change To The Starting XI

Interim Head Coach Robert Eziakor made just one change to the side that defeated Hougang United 3-0 in their previous outing, with Takeshi Yoshimoto returning at left-back.

Captain and club stalwart Syazwan Buhari also retained his place between the sticks after missing out in the win over Công An Hà Nội that saw the Stags progress to the Quarter-Finals.

Against the backdrop of a warm evening in Pathum Thani, the stadium was far from full, but those in attendance ensured a lively atmosphere from the opening whistle. It marked Tampines’ second visit to the venue in three months, having previously defeated BG Pathum United during the group stage thanks to goals from Koya Kazama and Trent Buhagiar.

Back home, members of The Stand also gathered in good numbers at a live screening at Our Tampines Hub to cheer on their side.

Hosts Strike Early

It was, however, the home side who made the brighter start.

After just three minutes, Syazwan was called into action to deny Jakkapan Praisuwan’s header following a cross from the right, as Bangkok United quickly showed their attacking intent.

Both teams initially tried to impose themselves, but Bangkok United’s physicality and compact setup made it difficult for the Stags to retain possession. Tampines’ defence had been a pillar of their continental campaign so far, and they initially held firm despite early pressure.

However, a costly error in the 11th minute handed the hosts the lead. A routine cross slipped through Syazwan’s grasp, and the loose ball eventually fell to Kosović, who finished from close range.

Just minutes later, the Stags found themselves further behind. As they attempted to build out from the back, another error allowed Picha to capitalize and double Bangkok United’s lead.

Reflecting on the difficult start, Trent admitted that the early mistakes proved costly.

“It was a tough game. We got punished by two mistakes in the beginning, but afterwards I felt the boys did a fantastic job and defended properly.”

The goals served as a harsh reminder of the fine margins at the continental level.

Trent’s Early Chances

Ironically, it had been Tampines who came closest to scoring after initially conceding.

Shortly after the first goal, Maltese International Trent had two opportunities in quick succession. His first was a quick snapshot in the penalty area after a loose ball fell kindly to him, while his second effort from distance went straight at Patiwat Khammai following a poor distribution by the goalkeeper.

Bangkok United nearly added a third shortly afterwards when Thitiphan Puangchan received a clever pass from Kosović, but saw his poked effort denied by Syazwan’s sharp reflexes. The Stags eventually began to settle and enjoyed a brief spell of possession, but the hosts continued to look dangerous on the break.

Just after the half-hour mark, centre-back Maia surged forward and unleashed a powerful effort from range, forcing Syazwan into another strong save. 

Tampines Regroup After The Break

The second half was a scrappier affair as Tampines cut out the earlier mistakes and tightened defensively.

The home side still threatened sporadically, with Muhsen Al-Ghassani rising highest to meet a cross but guiding his header just over the bar. Meanwhile, the visitors struggled to establish their usual midfield rhythm as the hosts continued to deny them space and time on the ball.

Coach Robert responded with a tactical adjustment around the 70-minute mark, introducing Dylan Fox for Seiga Sumi. The change allowed the Stags to build with three at the back and stretch the hosts’ defence, creating more space for the likes of Yuki Kobayashi and Koya Kazama to operate behind Hide Higashikawa.

Crucial Breakthrough

This sparked a breakthrough, which finally arrived with just over ten minutes remaining.

Trent, who had been relentless in his pressing throughout the match, pounced on a poor pass by Maia. The Brazilian defender attempted to recover, but the Tampines forward intercepted, burst forward, and calmly slotted a low finish into the bottom corner for his seventh goal of the campaign.

The strike also made him the outright leading scorer in the competition and more importantly, halved the deficit to give the Stags renewed belief.

“It was really important that we got the goal, as it gives us some momentum and hope going into the second leg,” said Jacob Mahler after the match, who put on a massive shift at the heart of defence.

Moments later, The Stags were handed another boost.

Maia, already on a yellow card, miscontrolled the ball and resorted to a rugby-style challenge on Hide as the Japanese forward looked set to race through on goal. The referee had little hesitation in producing a second yellow card, reducing the home side to ten men.

Late Push Falls Short

The Stags pushed forward in the closing minutes in search of an equaliser, but the Bangkok Angels held firm.

A late opportunity almost fell the visitors’ way when late substitute Glenn Kweh was picked out by Yuki outside the box. The Singapore international drove into the area but saw his right-footed effort comfortably gathered by Patiwat.

Despite the defeat, the Stags left Thailand knowing the tie remains very much alive.

What’s Next

While the Stags ultimately fell short on the night, Jacob believes that the team will be ready to respond in the return leg.

“We will be playing at home with the fans behind us, and we know what is at stake - a place in the next round - and we will give it our all.”

Before that though, BG Tampines Rovers return to domestic action on Sunday when they face the Young Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium.

The match also offers the Stags an opportunity to close the gap at the top of the league table after title rivals Lion City Sailors dropped points against Albirex Niigata (S).

Do come down and back the team as they build momentum ahead of the crucial second leg on March 12 - as Jacob put it succinctly, “It’s all to play for at home.”