Eagles’ wings clipped by Jaguars

Geylang International’s three-game unbeaten run came to an end after going down 2-0 to a spirited Tanjong Pagar for their first defeat of the 2023 AIA Singapore Premier League season.

The Eagles travelled to the Jurong East Stadium hoping to build on their fine momentum in the early season going but strikes from captain Shakir Hamzah and Blake Ricciuto in each half inspired the Jaguars to their first win of the season.

Shakir put the home side ahead in the 19th minute when he pounced from close range following a header attempt by Australian midfielder Ricciuto.

Ricciuto, who has been a menace to Geylang all night long with his aerial ability, would stamp his own mark with a great header that powered past Hafiz Ahmad in the 48th minute to make it 2-0.

Despite the two-goal deficit, the visitors never backed down and tried to get back into the game.

In the 67th minute, Yushi Yamaya almost pulled one back with a move that was nearly identical to their opponents’ earlier goal, but his effort was saved by Kenji Syed Rusydi.

Twenty minutes later, substitute Shahfiq Ghani too missed out on a glorious chance when he blew his follow-up shot off the target after Kenji had parried Yamaya’s initial strike.

The defeat prevented The Eagles from improving on their previous record of staying unbeaten in the first three matches of the season achieved in 2018.

Assistant coach Syed Azmir, who stood in for head coach Noor Ali in the dugout, said: “I know it’s not going to be an easy task playing Tanjong Pagar on their home ground.

“They were aggressive, they came at us and pressured high up from the start and we didn’t have the time to settle down.

“The moment we managed to settle down, that was also when they scored their first goal we had to play a chasing game from then on.”

Ends.