Eagles’ unbeaten run against Tanjong Pagar United comes to a halt
The Eagles were left with plenty to ponder after Tanjong Pagar United came back from two goals down to win 4-2 at Our Tampines Hub (OTH) on Saturday.
Geylang International dominated the early possession and deservedly went ahead in the 15th minute when Amy Recha’s stinging attempt at goal was palmed away by Zharfan Rohaizad for a corner. The resulting corner saw a scramble in the box before Barry Maguire’s header was bundled over the line for an own goal by Tanjong Pagar’s Anaqi Ismit.
The Eagles started to impose themselves again. Three minutes after the opening goal, Recha was played on neatly by Barry Maguire and the 29-year-old year old made no mistake for his seventh goal of the season by unleashing a pile driver that swirled past Zharfan into the left corner of the net.
Shodai Nishikawa then gave the Jaguars a lifeline just before halftime when he fired pass Hairul Syirhan from the edge of the box to pull one goal back for Tanjong Pagar United. The Jaguars levelled the score almost immediately after the break when Reo Nishiguchi connected well with a low cross from Luiz Junior to slide the ball into the net in the 49th minute.
Khairul Amri then struck a precise header off a free-kick from Rusyaidi Salime in the 78 minute to pull the Jaguars ahead for the first time in the match before adding his second of the night in the closing minute of the match to seal victory for the away team.
Geylang International’s Head Coach Noor Ali said: “Their goal in the closing minutes of the first half changed the complexity of the game. We should have done better then. We conceded three easy goals but credited to them, they worked hard and pressed us well. Of course, I’m disappointed but you got to look forward to the next game.”
The Eagles will take on Hougang United in an away fixture on August 20 at Hougang Stadium.
Lineup: Hairul Syirhan, Danny Kim, Amy Recha, Barry Maguire, Matheus Moresche, Harith Kanadi (Faizal Roslan 46), Asshukrie Wahid (Christopher van Huizen 81), Yuki Ichikawa (C), Abdil Qaiyyim, Afiq Yunos, Elijah Lim (Umar Akhbar 46)