Eagles seal fourth spot with gusty 1-1 draw against league champions

Geylang International ended their 2022 AIA Singapore Premier League season in fourth place after battling to a 1-1 draw against champions, Albirex Niigata in their final league game at Our Tampines Hub (OTH) on Friday night.

It was a marked improvement for the Eagles as they bettered last season’s result where they finished in sixth place. It was also another noteworthy finish considering the team were languishing in the near bottom of the league table, having also endured a frustrating 11-game winless streak from March to June earlier this year.

Geylang International Head Coach Noor Ali could not hide his delight as his tactical masterclass paid off on a night where the stakes were high for him and his charges.

“It was a very tactical game against Albirex tonight and I’m very proud that my boys executed our game plan so well. Finishing fourth means a lot to the club as we went through a really challenging period this season. 

“At one stage, we were simply fighting to move away from near bottom of the table. So, this result is a reflection of the boys’ never-say-die attitude and their fighting spirit,” said Noor.  

In the opening 45 minutes, both teams could not find a breakthrough although each had their chances.

Takahiro Tezuka prevented the White Swans from seizing the initiative as early as the third minute with his goal-line clearance after a header from Massaya Idetsu seemed destined for the back of the net.

A swift counterattack by the Eagles in the 29th minute almost allowed Geylang International to draw first blood but a cross by Sime Zuzul towards an onrushing Ilhan Noor was thwarted by Hyrulnizam Jumaat.

Seven minutes later, a looping header by Ilhan Fandi could only find the roof of the net. When the match resumed, the woodwork denied Kodai Tanaka from giving Albirex the opener in the 59th minute             

The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute after a late challenge by Shogo Toyomura on Vincent Bezecourt inside the six-yard box saw referee, Farhad Mohamed point to the spot. 

Zuzul would make no mistake in firing his penalty into the net to give the Eagles the lead. However, Geylang’s lead lasted for only 10 minutes as the White Swans would get their equaliser from a header from Tanaka.

Both sides then held out for the last quarter of the match before the final whistle ensured the Eagles would close their 2022 season on a positive note.

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