Singapore Premier League: Lion City Sailors suffer big blow in title chase
Not only did they lose to DPMM FC, but they also saw key new signing Bailey Wright sent off for a straight red card
SINGAPORE — On a week which they announced two foreign signings and are selected to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Festival of Football event later this month, the Lion City Sailors suffered a setback in their Singapore Premier League (SPL) title chase on Tuesday (11 July).
A win against Brunei's DPMM FC would have taken the 2021 champions to the top of the table, with defending champions and league leaders Albirex Niigata (Singapore) not in midweek action. However, the Sailors suffered a 1-3 defeat at Bishan Stadium, with new Australian import Bailey Wright sent off for denying a clear scoring opportunity.
The Sailors also fielded Richairo Zivkovic, a former Ajax Amsterdam forward signed earlier in the week, but they fell behind in the ninth minute, when DPMM midfielder Indera Putera Yunos slided a through pass for Azwan Ali Rahman to slot home.
Shortly after the 32nd-minute dismissal of Wright - who was signed from English Championship club Sunderland - Hakeme Yazid extended DPMM's lead as he glided past Sailors defenders in a mazy dribble before slamming past Zharfan Rohaizad.
Adam Swandi pulled a goal back for the Sailors with a downward header in the 52nd minute, but DPMM ensured their fifth victory of the season when Angel Ortega scored from close range in the 65th minute.
The costly loss meant the Sailors remain on 39 points after 18 matches, still two points behind Albirex with six matches to go in the season, but having played a game more than the defending champions.
Tampines move up to 2nd place with 2-1 win
The Sailors' defeat also allowed fellow title challengers Tampines Rovers to leapfrog over them into second spot, following a 2-1 win over Tanjong Pagar United at Our Tampines Hub on Tuesday.
All three goals were scored in a five-minute spell in the second half, with the Stags' taking the lead through a penalty by Boris Kopitovic in the 72nd minute, after goalkeeper Kenji Syed Rusydi bundled Faris Ramli over in the box.
Within a minute, Tanjong Pagar pulled level, as Syukri Bashir tapped home after a goalmouth melee. However, Faris earned all three points for Tampines in the 78th minute, slotting home after a superb through pass by Yasir Hanapi.
Tampines are now level on 41 points with Albirex, but have played a game more.
Balestier Khalsa continued to consolidate their fourth position in the SPL, after a 4-2 victory over bottom-placed Young Lions at Bishan Stadium on Wednesday.
Goals from Shuhei Hoshino (33rd minute), Ryoya Taniguchi (65th and 82nd) and Alen Tozar (71st) gave the Tigers their 10th win of the season, and pushed them to 30 points, seven points ahead of fifth-placed Geylang International. Haziq Kamarudin (47th) and Amiruldin Asraf (95th) scored for the Young Lions.
Geylang suffered a 0-2 defeat by sixth-placed Hougang United at Our Tampines Hub on Wednesday, as goals from Kristijan Krajcek (45th) and Gabriel Quak (87th) ended the Cheetahs' four-match losing run.
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