By REDintern Kenneth Tan

Tampines Stadium, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - The Young Lions' winless start to the new S.League season continues after a 0-3 away defeat to Tampines Rovers.

National team forwards Qiu Li and Aleksandar Duric recovered from last week's disappointment in Jordan to score the goals that clinched a convincing victory for Tampines.

Young Lions lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Serbian playmaker Luka Savic playing just behind lone striker Khairul Nizam. Meanwhile Tampines started in a similar formation with diminutive midfielder Aliff Shafaein playing behind Duric.

Although the first half was largely dominated by Tampines, the Young Lions posed a larger threat in front of goal. Midfielder Izzidin Shafiq had two thunderous efforts that just fizzed over the bar, while Nizam wasted a one-on-one opportunity where he curled wide of the post.

The lack of cutting edge cost them as the opening goal was scored by Tampines on 41 minutes. Duric intelligently played a reverse pass outside the box for Qiu Li which took out the whole Young Lions defence. Qiu Li continued with his run into the box and proceeded to slam the ball past Young Lions goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud.

Young Lions had a good 15-minute spell after the start of the second half in which they managed to get their passing movement together, although they did not cause much trouble in front of goal.

Captain Hariss Harun nearly scored on 64 minutes with a blockbuster shot from 30 metres that just grazed the right-hand post. However that was the last real opportunity for Young Lions as they conceded another two goals in the last 12 minutes.

On 78 minutes, a cross from Tampines substitute Ismadi Mukhtar was well connected by Duric with his head. The shot went off the bar and right back into the path of Duric who took his second chance well with a left-footed volley into the bottom corner.

Then on 90 minutes, Duric put the icing on the cake with a curling shot into the top right corner of the goal from inside the box after he was left unmarked, shaping the final score of 3-0 to Tampines.

This victory meant Tampines stretched their lead on top of the S.league table to four points above second-placed Balestier Khalsa, with a record of 10 points from four games.

Meanwhile Young Lions remained in 10th position with a record of two points from four games. Young Lions coach V. Sundramoorthy will have to go back to the drawing board to search for their first win of the season.