Stags Secure Top Spot in Group H After Eight-Goal Thriller

The Stags took to the pitch knowing that 90 minutes stood between them and a landmark moment on the continental stage. With qualification already secured thanks to Pohang Steelers’ win over BG Pathum United earlier in the day, their final home AFC Champions League Two group fixture against Kaya FC-Iloilo carried one clear objective - to seize top spot and carry momentum into the knockout rounds.

The stakes were clear. A victory would guarantee first place, while anything less would leave the door ajar for Pohang to leapfrog them on the final matchday. The Stand, as ever, turned up in full voice, hoping to will their side toward another defining victory in what has already been a historic continental campaign.

What followed was not merely a win, but a pulsating, heart-stopping spectacle that tested every nerve inside the stadium towards the end. Dominant for over an hour and four goals to the good, the Stags appeared to be cruising toward their destiny. Yet football, in its beautiful unpredictability, had one final twist to offer. Kaya stormed back to turn a commanding 4-0 lead into a breathless 4-3 scoreline, plunging Bishan into a nervy crescendo. Then, when belief threatened to waver, Tampines summoned one final surge of resolve - finding a fifth goal to silence the away crowd and seal a breathtaking 5-3 triumph that will linger long in memory.

Fast Start Sets the Tone (Again)

Noh Rahman made one change to his usual backline, bringing in Amirul Adli alongside Shuya Yamashita at centre-back. The rest of the lineup bore no surprises, though it was a landmark night for Shah Shahiran, who made his 155th appearance for his boyhood club.

True to form, Tampines burst out of the blocks. Inside the opening minute, Takeshi Yoshimoto flashed a first-time effort just wide from a corner as the home side set out their attacking intent. Seven minutes in, the breakthrough arrived. A lapse in the Kaya backline, forced by Trent Buhagiar’s press, sent the forward through on goal. Unselfishly, he squared the ball across the box for an unmarked Hide Higashikawa, who calmly rounded the goalkeeper’s desperate challenge and rolled the ball into an empty net.

Reflecting on the early goal, Koya Kazama said: “Scoring a goal early on made the game easier for us. I think it was a very important goal.”

Barely a minute later, the home side nearly doubled the advantage. Another loose pass was punished as Trent clipped a ball into the path of Shah in the box, but the Singapore international could not generate enough power to beat the goalkeeper.

Tampines’ high press continued to force uncharacteristic errors from the visitors, keeping them pinned in their own half. Kaya’s first meaningful foray forward came close to the half-hour mark with a free-kick, but Syazwan Buhari stood firm, reacting superbly to a ferocious long-range follow-up after a mistimed header by Hide bounced off the crossbar.

Takeshi’s Magic and Relentless Pressure

At the 37 minute mark, Koya Kazama thought he had finished a sweeping move involving Trent and Takeshi, but was denied from close range. Kaya failed to clear their lines - and they were punished immediately. The ball broke for Takeshi, who slalomed past three defenders with exquisite footwork before calmly slotting into the bottom corner for his third goal of the year.

Moments later, Glenn Kweh broke through on goal but could not quite lift his effort over the onrushing goalkeeper. Kazama then drew a smart stop after choosing to shoot with teammates available on either side. The visitors fashioned two late half-chances before the interval, but Syazwan remained largely untroubled.

The home side went into the break leading by two goals and wondering how it wasn't more.

A Second-Half Avalanche

The second half began as the first had. Within moments of the restart, Koya picked out Higashikawa with a diagonal ball over the defence. A heavy touch allowed the goalkeeper a chance, but the loose ball broke kindly for Trent, who finished clinically into the empty net - his 12th goal in 17 AFC appearances.

The away team responded with a tight-angle shot that forced a sharp save before sending a glancing header narrowly wide. Tampines, however, were running riot on the other end. At the 55 minute mark, it was Koya again as he found an unmarked Hide drifting in at the far post, and the Japanese forward made no mistake to make it 4-0.

The match appeared settled. Surely?

Reflecting on the tense moments later in the game, Koya said: “Soccer is difficult after all. Even if there is a difference in the score, one point can change the outcome. Today I once again felt that soccer is a mental sport.”

The Storm And The Stand

Against the run of play in the 65th minute, Kaya finally found a foothold when Ott rose unmarked from a corner to power home a header. It was no surprise, given he had been the visitors’ most persistent threat, constantly ghosting into dangerous positions. Just four minutes later, the away team’s persistence invited further danger -  Ott’s initial effort was parried by Syazwan, but the rebound fell kindly for a teammate to bundle over the line and suddenly make it 4-2.

Coach Noh Rahman introduced fresh legs with a triple substitution as Jacob Mahler, Joel Chew and Taufik Suparno entered the fray. Yet moments later, Kaya struck again with fine work down the right to make it 4-3.

The Stand held its breath as the end-to-end content turned wild. A visibly furious Syazwan rallied his teammates as a once-comfortable lead dissolved into tension.

Then came the much-needed relief.

Enter the moment that finally steadied frayed nerves: Takeshi - indefatigable to the end - surged forward once more and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Faris Ramli on the left. From a tight angle, the substitute kept his composure and finished with ice-cold precision to make it 5-3, restoring calm to a night that had threatened to spiral out of control. 

It was a goal that meant everything - not only to the team and the supporters, but especially to Faris himself, who has battled tirelessly back from injury and is now clamouring for a return to the starting XI.

History Sealed

The Stags saw out the closing stages, even threatening a sixth as Shuya went close with a header. When the final whistle finally sounded, relief, joy and disbelief poured from the terraces but there was also a sense of reflection from the Tampines bench. 

Reflecting on the rollercoaster nature of the contest, head coach Noh Rahman admitted, “First of all, obviously we are happy with the result but it was a little disappointing that we conceded those goals. We made it difficult for ourselves. Nevertheless, I’m happy for the club and especially for the players. We set a target going into this group stage and we met our objective.”

Looking back on the historic achievement, Kazama said: “When the season started, I myself didn’t think we’d make it to the Round of 16. However, I think our daily practice and everyone’s desire to win, all working together in the same direction, has led to this result.” He added: “I would like to fight in the next stage with the same mentality as in the qualifying rounds.”

Long after the final whistle, the echoes of drums, chants and roaring throats told the story of a night where history was not just made - it was fought for. And the moment was not lost on Koya Kazama, who paid tribute to the club’s faithful: “We are truly grateful to our supporters. From here on, we will be competing in the Singapore Cup and Shopee Cup, so please continue to support us.”

What's next?

BG Tampines Rovers progressed to the knockout rounds as Group H winners, emerging top from a pool that included continental heavyweights Pohang Steelers and BG Pathum United.

Now that qualification to the knockout rounds has been secured, the focus turns to the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup where the Stags take on a familiar foe in BG Pathum United at the newly renovated Jalan Besar Stadium on December 3rd.

Come on down and make your voices heard once again!