Yang double sends Geylang back to SPL summit

Geylang International reclaimed first place in the Singapore Premier League after beating Hougang United 3-0 at Our Tampines Hub on Oct 26. Yang Hyeon-ju scored twice as Hougang suffered a fourth consecutive defeat and finished with 10 players.

With four victories and one draw, Geylang have collected 13 points from five matches. Tampines Rovers trail by one point but have played one match fewer. Geylang have conceded twice, giving them the competition’s strongest defensive record.

Coach Noor Ali left Dejan Racic and Sahil Suhaimi out of his starting line-up, choosing Yang alongside Ryoya Taniguchi and Kaisei Ogawa in attack. Yang opened the scoring during first-half stoppage time after Hougang captain Zulqarnaen Suzliman’s attempted chest pass to goalkeeper Ridhuan Barudin fell short.

Ogawa doubled the advantage eight minutes into the second half, finishing from Taniguchi’s through-ball. Hougang defender Milos Drincic received a second yellow card in the 75th minute for pulling substitute Racic, becoming the club’s fourth player sent off this season.

Lucas Cardoso later hit the crossbar from a free-kick for Hougang, while Jordan Emaviwe headed wide. Yang then finished a counter-attack in stoppage time to take his season’s tally to four goals.

Noor welcomed his side’s attacking rotation but said their finishing needed to improve before facing Tampines and Lion City Sailors. Hougang coach Akbar Nawas said his team were leaving too much space while seeking an equaliser and needed to review their performances.