SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE
Tampines Rovers 0
Albirex Niigata 0
It was tactical cat and mouse in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) yesterday as leaders Tampines Rovers laid siege but had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Albirex Niigata.
Fireworks were expected from this fixture as the Stags, with 11 goals from three games, faced last season's undefeated champions but, in the end, the White Swans' defence held firm before 2,745 fans at Our Tampines Hub.
A disappointed Stags coach Gavin Lee said: "It's two points dropped. We could argue that they (Albirex) had chances), but we should have taken our chances.
"But we will get better with more training and, knowing these boys, they will rebound quickly."
White Swans coach Keiji Shigetomi found some satisfaction in his team's defensive strength, saying: "They (Tampines) can have the ball, but not in our vital areas. We have played them in a pre-season friendly (losing 4-0) and we understand their attacking threats. Our plan was to block all their avenues of attack."
The result keeps Tampines top of the nine-team SPL standings on 10 points from four games, three ahead of Brunei DPMM, who have a game in hand. Albirex are sixth with two points from three games.
The two clubs are known for their attacking football, but it was Albirex, yet to score this season, who had to dig in to repel waves of attacks from the Stags.
Lee applied pressure through his wingers - Jordan Webb and Ryutaro Megumi - and Webb came close in the 19th minute, nicking the ball off defender Shuhei Sasahara but curling wide from an acute angle. In the 35th minute, Megumi volleyed wide from close range and, in stoppage time, striker Khairul Amri missed a good chance which could have won it for the home team.
"Everyone could see that Albirex came with a clear game plan. We predicted that but, unfortunately, we could not get into a rhythm in the first half," Lee said.
"We gave Albirex a few more problems in the second half. It wasn't easy as they were looking to hit us on the break. In the end, it was an even game."
Despite ending Tampines' three-game winning streak, Albirex finished the game with some regrets.
Shigetomi said: "I'm more frustrated with no goals being scored. We have taken a clean sheet against Tampines, but we still need to work hard on our attacking play.
"The players have to work more on their finishing, be more ruthless, more decisive and improve their accuracy."
Meanwhile, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced yesterday sanctions against two National Football League players for cheating during the mandatory 2.4km fitness test.
Shahir Hamzah and Masnashzreen Masturi from Yishun Sentek Mariners allowed "unknown persons" to impersonate them and take the test on their behalf.
Photographic and video evidence were collected to prove their guilt and both players were banned from being registered in any FAS organised or sanctioned competitions until the end of the 2021 season.
Manchester City will assess injured duo Bernardo Silva and Oleksandr Zinchenko before Sunday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace. Pep Guardiola's Silva was a surprise late
Vunipola stands firm after 'liking' Folau's anti-gay comments
For more than 70 minutes, Tampines Rovers defended resolutely and looked on course to record a morale-boosting AFC Cup win over Hanoi FC despite their fatigue and injury problems.
New Singapore football coach Tatsuma Yoshida and players
usasportsradar.com/soccer/new-singapore-football-coach-tatsuma-yoshida-and-players-must-be-on-same-page/
Citing Vietnam's success with the unheralded South Korean coach Park Hang-seo, he said: "Park was relatively unknown until his first senior national team job with Vietnam in 2017, and their amazing run in which he led them to the AFF Suzuki Cup title last year and the quarter-finals of this year's Asian Cup.
Healthy business outlook for 2019, two surveys find
Norwich promoted to Premier League after three-year absence
Chelsea forward Willian replaces injured Neymar in Brazil
The reports alleged that Manchester City had broken Financial Fair Play regulations by inflating the value of a multimillion-pound sponsorship deal. and who could also soon face a transfer ban
Manchester City could be transfer banned for a year, and that
Reds the hungrier side, says Van Dijk. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker, is expecting "a game full of passion" against Everton today at Goodison Park, which will
Reds the hungrier side, says Van Dijk - theworldnews.net
The Asian Football Confederation announced Tuesday that for the first time an all-female referee team will take charge of a men's continental club cup clash. Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita and assistants Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi will officiate the AFC Cup match between Myanmar's Yangon United and Cambodia's Naga World at the
History made as women to referee men's AFC Cup | Football
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic AFP April 30, 2019 AFP No Comments Barcelona (AFP) - Ivan Rakitic has said Lionel Messi's desire to win the Champions League is proving an inspiration for Barcelona ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool on Wednesday.
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic | Sport24
Singapore. 3 in 4 Singapore football fans plan their holidays around sporting events: Expedia. businesstimes.com.sg - Ng Ren Jye. OUT of 500 Singapore football fans surveyed, 76 per cent have planned holidays around sporting events, and nearly half (46 per cent) admitted to …
Expedia Group Football Travel Trends Study Reveals 87% of
Solskjaer unimpressed as United ease past Reading in FA Cup. takes a shot but fails to score during the English FA Cup third round match against Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Solskjaer unimpressed as United ease past Reading in Cup
A solid win for the Blues. Emerson - 6.5: Decent game, but had a hard time against Ryan Sessegnon. Ranieri's exit was the last nail in the coffin for Fulham.
AFC Asian Cup 2019: Usual Suspects in the Frame at Expanded Tournament The 17th Asian Cup finals will be the biggest in the 62-year history of the tournament but even with 24 teams battling it out, it is hard to look much beyond regional powers Iran, Japan and South Korea as potential champions.
Usual suspects are in the frame at expanded Asian Cup
Malcom shines in absence of other Barca stars, Football News
Neymar heads to Aspetar for medical assessment 2.6.0.0 Paris Saint-Germain F.C and Brazilian football player Neymar Jr has arrived at Aspetar, the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital in Qatar, to undertake a complete assessment after six weeks into an injury sustained to his foot.
Neymar heads to Qatar for medical assessment - France - RFI
en.rfi.fr/wire/20190307-neymar-heads-qatar-medical-assessment
Neymar heads to Qatar for medical assessment. Neymar will travel to Qatar to undergo a "complete assessment" six weeks into his recovery from a fractured right foot, the club said on Thursday
Neymar heads to Qatar for medical assessment - france24.com
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR the 2nd leg of CAF champion league final 2019 football match between Tunisia's Esperance sportive de Tunis and Morocco's Wydad
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR
0 comments:
Post a Comment