Stags Charge On to Fifth SPL Win in a Row

The ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup may have left a bitter aftertaste, but for the boys in Yellow and Black, the setback was merely the prologue to a masterpiece of a comeback. With a new-found hunger and a palpable swagger in our step, we roared back into the domestic league, hitting the turf with the kind of intensity that only comes from a squad determined to turn a page. 

Every match from here on isn't just a game. It’s a statement of intent that the best version of Tampines is yet to come. One match at a time. 

Squad Rotation

Balancing the demands of the league and the regional tournaments are no small tasks, but the Stags are built for it. With a thrilling lineup of fixtures ahead, Tampines strategically rotated some of their key players - with Seiga Sumi, Trent Buhagiar and Dylan Fox starting on the bench. 

As Raoul Suhaimi and Joel Chew returned to the starting XI, it’s clear that freshness and competition are at the heart of our strategy. Amirul Haikal earned his much-anticipated first start in the domestic league this campaign. Together, the dynamic trio are ready to bring that vital spark and energy to the field with relentless determination. 

“It’s good to have players coming in, and to be given valuable minutes in the domestic league,” said Assistant Coach Robert Eziakor.

With a jam-packed month on the horizon and rotation becoming key to their success, Shah Shahiran echoed that sentiment.

“It is important that the team continues to improve together. While some players get some rest, and others get rotated, we have a strong, quality team that can compete well in the league.”

Relentless in Attack

Fueled by a desire to extend their unbeaten run domestically, The Stags wasted no time in asserting control, hitting the ground running and ramping up the tempo from the onset. Shah made the first attempt on goal in the 3rd minute with a thunderous effort from outside the box, forcing an early save from Mario Mustapić.

Staying true to our recent form, Tampines found an early breakthrough in the 21st minute. A defence-splitting pass from Hide Higashikawa nicely landed into the path of Shah, who rifled the shot into the bottom corner of the net. Shah is enjoying a stellar start to the season, finding the net for the second game in a row. Known for his composure and control in midfield, he has once again shown his versatility and attacking threat, proving just as effective when pushing forward into advanced positions. 

Shortly after, an abrupt turn of events saw Jacob Mahler called into action early in the first half to replace Yuki Kobayashi, eager to pick up where Yuki left off.

The Stags pressed on with authority, commanding possession and unleashing chance after chance in relentless pursuit for more.

After Hide was fouled just outside the box, Koya Kazama’s free kick in the 31st minute narrowly missed, whizzing just inches wide of the target. In the 34th minute, a chaotic scramble in the box saw Raoul’s shot expertly palmed away by the keeper. Hide then fired a goal-bound effort from the rebound, only to be denied by the referee’s offside call. 

However, Tampines were not done yet, as they launched wave after wave of attacking play that kept The Tiger’s defence on the edge. A slick one-two pass between Koya and Glenn sent Hide racing through, but his powerful effort was bravely blocked by the home side’s defence. Amirul then unleashed an effort of his own from the loose ball, but it was collected with calm composure by Mario Mustapić. Following that, Joel and Glenn both seized golden opportunities to extend the lead, but their efforts were merely enough to test the keeper, who remained steady, comfortably collecting each strike.

A Controlled Display

Right after the restart, Tampines came out of the tunnel looking sharp, and it didn’t take long for them to extend their advantage. Koya delivered a moment of brilliance as he threaded a no-look pass, through the heart of the Tiger’s defence that left everyone in awe. Hide reacted with lightning speed, positioning himself perfectly to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner, sending the Stags surging further ahead. With 18 goals to his name for the Stags in all competitions this season, Hide has been a clinical predator in front of goal, making his mark in every match and solidifying himself as the backbone of Tampines’ offensive power.

In an attempt to respond, the Tigers pushed forward in quick succession, desperately trying to claw their way back into the game. In the 55th minute, Tin Matic calmly controlled the ball and shrugged off Shuya, before attempting to drive a low ball into the net, only for it to bounce off the post. The hosts continued to keep up the pressure, with Masahiro Sugita powering a shot at goal moments later. With remarkable instinct, Shuya threw himself in front of the shot, and bravely denied the attempt on goal. In the 67th minute, Harith Kanadi unleashed a thunderous strike that forced Syazwan into a full-stretch dive - his quick reflexes palming the ball away to deny the home side.

Tampines were utterly dominant throughout, and they sealed their superiority with another clinical goal, closing out the game in style and leaving no doubt about their control.

With a stunning, pinpoint delivery from the resulting free kick in the 71st minute, Koya picked out the unmarked Jacob in the box, who rose highest and powered a clinical header home to score his maiden goal for The Stags. Delivering two assists in the game, our midfield maestro now cements his status as the league’s top playmaker (at the time of writing). 

With the game firmly in their grasp, the Stags made their move to freshen up the lineup, seamlessly introducing fresh legs to maintain the pressure while carefully managing their key players for the challenges ahead. In the 75th minute, Takeshi Yoshimoto and Trent Buhagiar entered the fray, replacing Glenn and Koya, keeping the tempo high and the momentum flowing. Not long after, Zikos Chua was handed his first minutes of the domestic campaign, as he stepped onto the pitch alongside Ong Yu En, offering Hide and Shah a well-earned breather while injecting new energy to see out the game. As the final whistle is blown, it finished 3-0 to The Stags.

Reflections

“It is an important victory for us, especially heading to Hanoi (for the AFC Champions League Two First Leg clash) next week”, said Shah, who bagged two consecutive Man-of-the-Match awards. “We should continue to focus on what’s ahead of us, take it one game at a time and do our best in the upcoming games”.

The convincing win against Balestier Khalsa keeps the Stags firmly in the title race, maintaining pace at the top of the SPL table as we sit just four points behind league leaders Lion City Sailors. It also extends our winning run in the SPL to five matches, underlining the team’s strong momentum as the season heads into a crucial stretch.

With that, we look ahead to the AFC Champions League Two Round of 16 clash against Công An Hà Nội. The Stags are ready to take their shot at glory, as they seek to avenge that previous defeat and aim for a strong run on the regional stage.