Stags Secure Continental Football With Second Place Finish

After 20 gruelling Singapore Premier League (SPL) matches where The Stags also had to balance a domestic Cup Final berth and a historic continental AFC Champions League (ACL) Two campaign, it had finally come down to last night. One final evening, one final match, one final 90 minutes to cap off a memorable season. 

The stakes were clear: a solitary point would be enough to secure a coveted second-place finish and continental qualification, having garnered a positive goal difference (the second best in the League) throughout the season.

Interim Head Coach William Phang introduced a trio of changes in the search for all three points. Raoul Suhaimi, Seiga Sumi, and Trent Buhagiar were replaced by Joel Chew, Irfan Najeeb, and Hide Higashikawa, with the last of the three entering the match two goals behind compatriot Shingo Nakano in the race for the SPL Golden Boot.

With the previous match-up between the sides proving to be a fiery and feisty affair, all eyes of the packed-out stadium were on the centre circle of the Our Tampines Hub pitch as the kick-off whistle blew to signal a start to the proceedings.

Triangles And Boxes

The opening minutes were marked by the very brand of football that got Tampines its success to this point this season, intricate triangles and passing combinations that looked to progress the ball up the field. This culminated early in Glenn Kweh finding himself with the ball, before whipping it into Hide, whose header proved tame for The Stags’ first attempt of the night.

The home side, however, was quickly reminded of the counter-attacking threat that the Sailors possessed when, with one looping pass, Hariss Harun found Lennart Thy who shot it just wide. Minutes later, a Ramselaar-driven pass found Thy again, whose snapshot found itself missing the target.

After a bright start from The Stags, it was the away side that found themselves growing into the game, but being denied through the resolute defending that was a landmark of Tampines Football, with Club Captain Syazwan Buhari put into action on multiple occasions, first to stop a Ramselaar shot, and then a Thy header. 

Chances Aplenty

Tampines turned defence into offence, and invited support from the Stags faithful when former Stag Kyoga Nakamura was dispossessed. Koya Kazama found himself with space to pick out a lovely cross into the box, which was just out of the outstretched leg of Shah Shahiran. Moments later, it was the Vice-Captain who turned provider, when his ball into the box was headed by Jacob into the path of Hide, who could not find the net.

The chances kept coming for the home team as well, with Yuki Kobayashi finding Glenn with a precise through ball. Yet again, it was a cross whose finish left more to be desired, as Hide’s header back across the box was not met with another Stag player.

After a very tight first half, the half-time whistle sounded as the scoreline affirmed the eye-test; there was not much to separate the two sides.

A Topsy-Turvy Start To The Second

However, when the second half whistle sounded, it did not take long for a breakthrough.

An individual display of skill from Bart Ramsaalar unlocked the left flank amidst acres of space, and the Dutchman laid it onto Song Ui-young, who produced an outstanding finish past the full stretch of Syazwan Buhari. If The Stags were to secure their second-place finish, it would have to come from behind.

Shortly after, a series of corner kicks finally bore fruit for Tampines, with Jacob Mahler rising unmet to thump a header past Ivan Susak to restore parity to the game. On the other side however, it was yet another cross and header that got the Sailors their lead back, with a cross of their own, finished powerfully and accurately by Lennart Thy.

The frantic pace of the game introduced even more chaos with almost another immediate response when Koya’s low cross found Hide in the six-yard box. Alas, the striker did not catch the delivery cleanly, and the shot went wide as a result.

Joel Chew was replaced by Taufik Suparno to add some attacking bite down the wing, and he almost had an immediate impact too, with the ball finding him for a shot that was not dealt with cleanly by Sailors goalkeeper Susak. However, Irfan’s resulting shot was blocked by a Sailors defender on the line.

Yet another chance presented itself for The Stags, and it was the energetic Taufik again, who found the midfield duo of Yuki and Shah. The latter released Taufik with a nice combination, but not before Susak was able to collect the ball.

Tampines looked to be on the ascendancy though and soon enough, it was Yuki who proved to be the difference maker this time. Smelling an opportunity, the sprinting Yuki Kobayashi received a pass into the half-space from Takeshi Yoshimoto, who found enough time to beautifully finish it into the top corner. 2-2, and there was an air of certainty around the Home fans. They were starting to believe again.

All Tampines

After already stamping his authority on the game, Yuki was replaced by Seiga Sumi in the middle of the park. Seconds later, Tampines took yet another corner kick, and the wicked delivery was deflected in the box. The ball fell to Hide, who buried his shot powerfully into the back of the net. The Japanese striker, who was at the heart of so many of the season’s game-changing moments thus far, finally gets on the scoresheet, with a winning goal to boot.

Throwing a wrench in the works for the Home team, Koya Kazama received his second yellow card of the game, and was sent off having made a challenge on Tsiy Ndenge. Goalscorer Hide and the industrious Glenn Kwen were replaced by Tara Ndao and Raoul Suhaimi in the dying minutes of the game to add energetic legs to the leading side.

The substitutes combined for another half-chance, when a beautiful challenge from Sumi and a delightful pass found Tara, who blazed a shot over the bar.

In the last moments of the matchup, Tampines custodian Syazwan Buhari stopped a point-blank header from Bailey Wright with cat-like reflexes, putting a cherry on top of a mighty performance.

When the final whistle sounded, it was jubilation for The Stand. BG Tampines Rovers had accomplished one better than what needed to be done - they had gotten all three points against bitter rivals, serving them their second defeat of the season to end the season on a high in second place.

Ending On A High

After the many ups and downs of the season, the team had found its strength in The Stand, who had again shown up in droves to back their side last night. After the match, Interim Head Coach William Phang had a few words to thank the Stags faithful.

“Although we secured second place in the League, we know we can do better. We will keep improving and take the lessons from this season forward. Huge thanks to the fans who have stood behind the team through the ups and downs. We all really appreciate the support. Thank you!”

Like Coach William, we would also like to extend our massive appreciation to The Stand for your unwavering support throughout the season. Our Stags will be back, with continental football being secured next season - and we can’t wait to see you in the stadiums cheering on the team. Until then!