Stags Stand Tall In All-BG Clash

BG Tampines Rovers kept their place atop Group H of their AFC Champions League Two campaign with a crucial 2-1 victory over Thai giants BG Pathum United at Bishan Stadium, keeping hopes alive ahead of a crucial double-header against Pohang Steelers, a side widely tipped as strong contenders.

The clash, billed as the “BG Derby” given the partnership agreement between the two clubs, saw little generosity on the pitch as the Stags produced a spirited and disciplined display to edge their illustrious visitors in front of the hopeful Stags faithful.

It was the third meeting between the sides in 2025, following last season’s Singapore Cup semi-finals where Tampines triumphed over two legs against a largely second-string Rabbits outfit. This time, though, the Pathum Thani-based team named a strong side - fresh off a morale-boosting 2-0 league win over rivals Port FC, while Noh Rahman’s charges were looking to bounce back from their 4-2 ASEAN Club Championship defeat to Selangor a week ago.

Thai star Chanathip Songkrasin started on the bench, with 39-year-old veteran Surachat Sareepim handed a third straight start for the visitors. For the Stags, it was an unchanged team from the side that started last week’s loss in the ASEAN Club Championship, as Coach Noh evidently saw the promise and potential of the lineup.

The Stags settled into shape quickly, working the ball through midfield with patience, though it was the visitors who carved out the early openings. Inside 4 minutes, stand-in captain Kritsada Kaman pulled a shot wide after finding space in the box, before Joel López Pissano blazed over from distance.

Gradually, Tampines grew into the contest. Glenn Kweh was twice denied after darting runs into space, while for the visitors, Tomoyuki Doi saw a dangerous effort blocked by Dylan Fox at the 25 minute mark. Football fans in Singapore are no strangers to the Japanese frontman’s goalscoring exploits.

As the half wore on, the visitors began to assert themselves, with Ekanit Panya forcing Syazwan Buhari into a smart save from a strike on the left. But just when it seemed the Stags might be pegged back, Bishan came alive.

In the 41st minute, a flowing team move that started with Trent Buhagiar bursting through the middle saw Glenn finding Koya Kazama down the right with a clever reverse pass. The Japanese midfielder delivered a pin-point cross into the path of Trent, who timed his run perfectly to head home his sixth goal in as many games.

The Stags could have doubled their advantage going into the break when Hide Higashikawa found himself clean through moments later, but dragged his shot wide. A let-off for the visitors after a glorious chance, but a promising first half for the boys nonetheless.

As expected, The Rabbits responded after the break, with Chanathip introduced to inject creativity. He had an early half-chance fizz out almost immediately after the restart, but his presence immediately raised the tempo.

The Thais dominated possession, probing around the box without truly breaking down Tampines’ defensive structure. Then came the hammer blow, much to our delight.

In the 53rd minute, Glenn was fouled after a driving run in transition. From the resulting free-kick, Koya’s wicked delivery caused chaos in the visitors’ box, and Hide was quickest to react - tucking home his first goal of the tournament and fourth of the season.

Reflecting on his strike, Hide was humble but proud:

“I didn’t expect that I could play in big tournaments such as the AFC Champions League Two, so (the goal) was important for me.”

BG Pathum pressed on relentlessly, with Chanathip twice forcing Syazwan into sharp saves. He also had an appeal for a penalty at one point after being seemingly brought down by Taufik Suparno in the box. Syazwan then produced arguably his best save of the night, clawing away Jordan Emaviwe’s looping header.

The visitors finally broke through in the 85th minute, fittingly via Chanathip, who turned sharply outside the box and drilled low into the corner for what was the Thai side’s incredible 27th attempt of the night.

A nervy finale followed, but Tampines dug deep. Substitute Joel Chew blasted over late on after a blistering counterattack, but the miss did not prove costly. When the final whistle went, Bishan erupted, three points secured, and the Stags still firmly in the hunt for qualification.

Full-time Thoughts

After the match, there was a sense of both relief and pride among the Stags’ camp.

“It’s a relief to be able to see out the game and get the win,” reflected Captain Syazwan Buhari. “It shows the resilience of the team, although I felt that we had enough chances to put the game away for good.”

The result keeps Tampines top of Group H on goal difference, and with Pohang Steelers up next, the magnitude of the win was not lost.

“It’s definitely a morale booster for the team especially going into two difficult games coming up,” he felt. “But at the same time, we have to reflect on what we can do better so we can put in an even better performance against Pohang.” 

Asked about the balance between style and pragmatism on the continental stage, the response was measured:

“It depends on the situation, really, and it’s evident that we are able to mix playing attractive football and being smart. During the second half, for example, when BG Pathum was pressing us high, we decided to go long on multiple occasions.”

Finally, our custodian paid tribute to the home faithful who roared them over the line.

“It goes without saying that their voices were one of the many reasons why we are able to see out the game. As players, we are thankful for the constant support and encouragement we get throughout the 90 minutes which helps us keep going.”

Head Coach Noh Rahman, meanwhile, addressed the bigger picture after a result that silenced doubters.

“First of all, yes, we are in a tough group. (But) we spoke just before the game - we need to respect ourselves a little bit more when we enter these kinds of competitions. Of course they are top teams around the region, (but) we are also a good side, so we spoke about trusting our abilities, and tonight I thought the boys showed that. I’m quite pleased that the boys stuck with the game plan and stayed together for most parts of the game.”

What It Means

This was more than just a win. It was a statement of intent from BG Tampines Rovers, proving they can go toe-to-toe with one of the region’s strongest sides.

With Pohang Steelers looming in back-to-back fixtures, qualification remains a daunting task, but the Stags’ belief will only have grown after this battling display.

We resume domestic duties again after the international break. For now, the boys and the team can take a well-deserved break before they go again!