Eagles silenced by Young Lions

Geylang International failed to conclude the first round of the Singapore Premier League with a win after being thumped 4-1 by Young Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday.

The Eagles simply had no answer to the Young Lions’ spirited performance, which earned them a first win of the season following a stretch of five defeats.

The Young Lions, preparing for the Vietnam SEA Games next month, signalled their first warning as early as the fourth minute when Harith Kanadi’s left foot strike forced Zaiful Nizam into action.

Buoyed by that move, the home side stepped up their attacking threat, and it took them just three minutes later to draw the first blood when former Eagles player, Zikos Chua, combined well with Khairin Nadim to beat Zaiful on the left flank.

Zikos took his chance well to slot in from cross range following a low cross from Khairin.

Just as the Eagles were looking to respond, Zaiful paid the price for his poor position, which led to them conceding a second.

With Geylang International on the attack, the skipper came some distance off his line and was caught out by Ryhan Stewart in the 21st minute.

Geylang International had their first clear chance of the night through Vincent Bezecourt three minutes later, but the midfielder header from a corner went straight to the Young Lions custodian Ridhwan Fikri.

Croatian striker Sime Zuzul too, threatened Young Lions twice in quick succession in the 34th and 37th minutes.

First, his excellent effort from outside the box was blocked by Ridhwan before seeing another attempt hitting the right post.

The Eagles were left rueing for their poor defence again as Ryhan punished them for the second time of the night in the 57th minute.

Geylang waited until the 71st minute to finally pull one back courtesy of a spot-kick when Zuzul was deemed to have been brought down by Syabil Hisham in the box.

Zuzul wouldn’t waste the chance as he sent Ridwan the wrong way for his fourth goal of the season and made it 3-1.

However, the Eagles just couldn’t find their way back into the game despite the lifeline.

Young Lions captain Jacob Mahler then completed the rout by nodding in Joel Chew’s free kick in the 83rd minute.

“It was not the result we were hoping for,” said Geylang head coach Noor Ali.

“We have to analyse our performances in the first round, regroup and come back stronger when the second round resumes next month.”