The Singapore Cup group stages came to a thrilling end this week, with Geylang International closing their campaign in style – they breezed past Tanjong Pagar United on Saturday, 6 December – before Balestier Khalsa pipped Hougang United to the final semi-final berth in a closely-contested encounter a day later (7 December). Here's a look at all the action: 

Eagles condemn Jaguars to winless cup run 

Tanjong Pagar United 1-4 Geylang International | Jurong East Stadium | 6 December 

(Youssef Ezzejjari 70' (P) | Shuhei Hoshino 5', 58’, Riku Fukashiro 15', Vincent Bezecourt 37)

Geylang International wrapped up their Singapore Cup campaign on a high, dispatching a toothless Tanjong Pagar United side 4-1 at the Jurong East Stadium.

Even with elimination already confirmed for both sides before kick-off, Geylang looked the hungrier team from the first whistle. Their intensity paid off almost immediately, as Shuhei Hoshino ghosted in behind the Jaguars’ backline to fire the Eagles ahead in the 4th minute. 

Geylang added a quickfire second just ten minutes later when Vincent Bezecourt slid a first-time cross into the box for Riku Fukashiro to fire past Zaiful Nizam.

It went from bad to worse for the Jaguars in the 25th minute when Faizal Roslan was sent off after being adjudged to have impeded Ryoya Taniguchi in the box. However, Jaguars’ custodian Zaiful Nizam reacted sharply to deny Shahdan Sulaiman from the penalty spot.

However, Zaiful was powerless to stop Bezecourt’s superb toe-poke effort in the 36th minute that put Geylang in cruise control heading into the break.

Hoshino piled more misery on Tanjong Pagar in the 57th minute as he rifled an effort into the top corner of the goal.

The Jaguars pulled one back through Youssef Ezzejjari’s 69th-minute penalty, but it proved nothing more than a consolation, as Tanjong Pagar ended their winless campaign at the bottom of the Singapore Cup standings.

Tanjong Pagar United: Zaiful Nizam, Danish Haqimi (Vincenzo Ucchino 66’), Aaron Michael Evans (C), Syed Muhammad Akmal, Faizal Roslan, Raihan Rahman (Syahrul Sazali 46’), Lim Hyunsub (Fathullah Rahmat 82’), Naqiuddin Eunos, Shodai Nishikawa (Azim Akbar 46’), Bruno Dybal (Estevez Tsai Emilio 54’), Youssef Ezzejjari Lhasnaoui

Unused subs: Matthew Silva, Kenji Rusydi, Emmeric Ong, Aloysius Pang, Sahil Suhaimi, Ngankam Aymeric Charles, Samuel Pillai

Geylang International: Rudy Khairullah, Nazrul Nazari (Danial Crichton 90’), Joshua Pereira (C) (Ethan Pinto 64’), Nikola Ignjatovic, Shodai Yokoyama, Kaisei Ogawa, Shahdan Sulaiman (Ahmad Munthala Sriwaluya 64’), Riku Fukashiro, Vincent Bezecourt (Ryu Hardy 85’), Ryoya Taniguchi, Shuhei Hoshino (Raiyan Noor 64’) 

Unused subs: Aniq Matin Zulfadli, Gareth Low, Ko Jaehyun, Prince Rio Rifae'i, Nur Ikhsanuddin

Red card - Faizal Roslan (Tanjong Pagar United) 27’

Tigers secure ticket to semi-finals

Balestier Khalsa 2-1 Hougang United | Bishan Stadium | 7 December

(Tin Matic 45+1, Ignatius Ang 54’ | Farhan Zulkifli 62’)

Balestier Khalsa faced Hougang United in a Singapore Cup group stage match that would determine which of the two sides progressed to the semi-finals, with the Tigers turning a disciplined and clinical showing at Bishan Stadium.  

Goals on either side of half-time were enough to see Balestier leapfrog Hougang standings and score that coveted ticket to the semi-finals. 

It took a moment of brilliance from the in-form Tin Matic to break the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. A pinpoint through ball from Lazar Vujanic found Matic in the box, and the Croatian clinically curled his shot into the bottom corner to give the Tigers the lead.

Ignatius Ang doubled their advantage after the break, instinctively diverting Masahiro Sugita’s shot home in the 54th minute to leave Hougang with a mountain to climb.

Conceding that goal seemed to rally the Cheetahs, with winger Farhan Zulkifli pulling one back just eight minutes later, after Mario Mustapic spilled a shot into his path.

With Hougang needing only a draw to progress, the Cheetahs threw everything at the Balestier goal. But their efforts bore no fruit. 

A last-ditch trip on Daniel Goh saw Farhan receive his marching orders in the 98th minute. That saw Hougang go down to 10 men, effectively ending their hopes of a comeback. 

The result means Balestier set-up a semi-final encounter against the Lion City Sailors, while group leaders Albirex Niigata (S) take on BG Tampines Rovers. 

The first leg of the semi-finals will be played on 14 December, with the second leg taking place on 20 December. 

Balestier Khalsa: Mario Mustapic, Tajeli Salamat (Fudhil I’Yadh 83’), Madhu Mohana (C), Mario Subaric, Darren Teh (Harith Kanadi 83’), Ignatius Ang (Daniel Goh 65’), Lazar Vujanic, Masahiro Sugita, Jakov Katusa, Tin Matic (Elijah Lim 78’), Bogdan Mandic

Unused subs: Hafiz Ahmad, Syabil Hisham, Tiago Barbosa Martins, Lin Ze Hao, Karthigaya Varmaan, Ifat Sha’aban

Hougang United: Zharfan Rohaizad, Ryaan Sanizal (C), Nabilai Kibunguchy (Kanok Kongsimma 75’), Jordan Vestering, Ryohei Yoshihama, Huzaifah Aziz, Settawut Wongsai, Victor Blasco Llorens, Farhan Zulkifli, Hugo Kametani (Parinya Nusong 55’) 

Unused subs: Ridhuan Barudin, Rauf Sanizal, Brant Tan, Haiqal Pashia, Woo Chun Wei, Christopher Lee

Red card - Farhan Zulkifli (Hougang United) 90+8’