By Kenneth Tan/Red Sports

Jalan Besar Stadium, Wednesday, May 5, 2010 – League leaders Tampines Rovers held off a strong second half display by Balestier Khalsa to clinch a valuable 3-2 win that opened up a three-point lead at the top of the S.League table.

Tampines dominated the first half and deservingly lead 2-nil at the break. However Balestier lived up the nickname of the Tigers as they showed tremendous fighting spirit to score two goals in the space of seven minutes that levelled the scores in the second half. National team forward Khairul Amri proved to be the saviour for Tampines as he scored their third goal with five minutes left to sink the brave Tigers.

Tampines continued to line up in their unorthodox 3-4-3 formation with Aleksandar Duric, Aliff Shafaein and Qiu Li leading the line. Tricky winger Jamil Ali was also given a rare start by coach Vorawan Chitavanich. Meanwhile Balestier started in a 4-4-1-1 formation with midfielder Anantha Rajan lining up just behind Brazilian forward Vitor Borges.

With just three minutes on the clock, Tampines went ahead with a goal from veteran forward Aleksandar Duric. A free kick whipped in from the right by Shukor Zailan into the box was flicked on by French defender Benoit Croissant into the path of Duric who easily tapped the ball home into the bottom right corner of the goal.

After firing a few efforts wide, Tampines doubled their lead on 30 minutes. Jamil Ali’s sublime outside foot pass from the left picked out Aliff Shafaein just outside the box. Faced with an oncoming defender, Aliff remained unfazed as he curled a superb effort over out-of-position Balestier goalie Joey Sim into the right corner of the goal.

Eight minutes after the restart, Tampines could have gone 3-0 up. Duric sidestepped his marker well on the left before drilling the ball across the box. Balestier centre back Paul Cunningham miscued his volleyed clearance which went straight towards his own goal. Fortunately Joey Sim did well to intercept the ball and held on to it despite an onrushing Tampines player.

Balestier began to get their game together thereafter and began to threaten the Tampines goal on a couple of occasions.

On 56 minutes, Vitor Borges went on a surging run through the middle before smacking a powerful shot against the bar from outside the box. Full back K Sathiraj then unleashed a looping shot from 40 yards that was tipped over the bar by Tampines goalkeeper Ridhuan Bahrudin two minutes later.

Balestier’s pressure paid off on 62 minutes through a superb team move. Full back Poh Yi Feng’s cross from the right was flicked on into the path of winger Nurhilmi Jasni just inside the box. Nurhilmi proceeded to lob over the onrushing Ridhuan into the goal to halve the deficit.

Buoyed by the goal, Balestier began to pile on the pressure and were rewarded by a goal from substitute Rivaldo Costa seven minutes later. The Brazilian, who came on just seconds earlier, connected superbly with a Poh Yi Feng cross from the right to volley the ball home with his first touch. The goal brought some raucous celebrations from the Balestier bench, raising hopes of an unlikely draw.

However they could not sustain their hard work as they conceded a goal against the run of play with just five minutes to play.

A Duric cross from the right picked out substitute Khairul Amri inside the box. Khairul twisted and turned past his marker before shooting with his weaker left foot. The shot went straight through Joey Sim’s legs and into the goal for Tampines to regain their lead.

The goal broke all Balestier resistance as Tampines held out for the hard-fought 3-2 victory.

The result meant Tampines now have 24 points from 11 games played, three points ahead of second-placed Etoile FC with a game in hand. Meanwhile Balestier remained in eighth position with 13 points from 11 games.

Balestier next visit Gombak United at Jurong West Stadium on Monday, May 10th, while Tampines host Albirex Niigata (Singapore) on Tuesday, May 11th.

Scorers
Tampines
Aleksandar Duric 3’, Aliff Shafaein 30’, Khairul Amri 85’
Balestier
Nurhilmi Jasni 62’, Rivaldo Costa 69’