The Singapore Cup returned for Matchday 2 with a bang, as Albirex Niigata (S) shocked Balestier Khalsa with a late comeback at the Jurong East Stadium on Thursday (6 November), before Hougang United held on for a vital win against Tanjong Pagar United at the same venue on Friday (7 November). Here’s a look at all the key moments: 

White Swans stun Tigers with dramatic comeback

Albirex Niigata 3-2 Balester Khalsa | Jurong East Stadium | 6 November 

(Takumi Yokohata 22', Kim Taeuk 90+3', Nicky Melvin Singh 90+8' | Tin Matić pen. 59', Jakov Katuša 74')

Two stoppage-time goals helped Albirex Niigata to a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Balestier Khalsa, as they took a huge step towards securing one of the two Singapore Cup semi-final berths. 

The White Swans took control of proceedings in the first half, with Katsuyuki Ishibashi capitalising on a misplaced backpass from Tin Matic, before squaring the ball for Takumi Yokohata to open the scoring in the 22nd minute. 

Their dominance almost produced a second goal just 15 minutes later, but Naoki Yoshioka’s header ricocheted off both the crossbar and the post.

After a quiet first half, Balestier sprang into life when Kim Taeuk was penalised for handling Madhu Mohana’s 54th-minute header from a corner. Tin then redeemed himself from his earlier error by coolly dispatching the penalty, before setting up the in-form Jakov Katusa in the 74th minute to give the Tigers the lead.

Albirex, however, responded in dramatic fashion. 

This time, it was Kim’s turn to make amends, powering home a header in the third minute of stoppage time to level the scores. Substitute Nicky Melvin Singh then turned hero, connecting with a Danish Qayyum cross five minutes later to snatch all three points for the White Swans.

Facts:

• Balestier Khalsa have now won just one of their last 35 competitive meetings with Albirex in all competitions. (

• The loss also marked only the Tigers’ second defeat in the eight matches they’ve played this season. 

• Nicky Melvin Singh has netted 3 goals in just 177 minutes of action in the SPL and SG Cup this season. 

Albirex Niigata: Hassan Sunny, Kim Taeuk, Nozomi Ozawa, Cho Eunsu, Haziq Kamarudin (Nicky Melvin Singh 64’), Jared Gallagher (Syed Firdaus Hassan 75’), Naoki Yoshioka, Sim Jun Yen (Danish Qayyum 75’), Katsuyuki Ishibashi (Ren Nishimura 90’), Shingo Nakano (C), Takumi Yokohata

Unused subs: Takahiro Koga, Dylan Pereira, Komei Lida, Jaden Heng, Helmi Shahrol, Syukri Bashir, Delwinder Singh, Soshi Kadowaki

Balestier Khalsa: Mario Mustapic, Darren Teh, Madhu Mohana (C), Mario Subaric, Fudhil I’Yadh (Levi Farris Alfa 85’), Masahiro Sugita, Lazar Vujanic, Daniel Goh (Ignatius Ang 71’), Tin Matic, Jakov Katusa, Bogdan Mandic (Ifat Sha’aban 80’)

Unused subs: Martyn Mun, Hafiz Ahmad, Syabil Hisham, Elijah Lim, Tiago Barbosa Martins, Karthigaya Varmaan 

Late fightback not enough as Jaguars fall short to Cheetahs

Tanjong Pagar United 2-3 Hougang United | Jurong East Stadium | 7 November

(Youssef Ezzejjari pen. 83', Bruno Dybal 89' | Farhan Zulkifli 11', Settawut Wongsai 19', 64')

A late flourish from Tanjong Pagar United proved futile as a 10-man Hougang United side kicked off their Singapore Cup campaign with a crucial 3-2 win at Jurong East Stadium on Friday (7 November).

The Cheetahs raced out of the blocks right from the whistle, with Farhan Zulkifl drawing first blood as he met Yotsakon Burapha’s cross in the 11th minute to open the scoring. 

It would only get worse for Tanjong Pagar just seven minutes later, as Yuma Suwa got the better of Lim Hyunsub and squared the ball for Settawut Wongsai to double the lead.

Tanjong Pagar were handed a golden opportunity when Yuma was sent off in the 52nd minute for catching Faizal Roslan with a flailing elbow. However, it was Hougang who struck again when Settawut notched his brace in the 64th minute. 

Tanjong Pagar hit the bar twice through Lim and Naqiuddin Eunos, and finally found their breakthrough when Youssef Ezzejjari converted a penalty in the 77th minute to give them a glimmer of hope. 

Bruno Dybal pulled another back late on after his cross found the top corner of Ridhuan Barudin’s goal, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Jaguars from suffering consecutive losses. 

Facts:

• Hougang United have won three of their last four encounters with Tanjong Pagar.

• The Jaguars have won only one of the seven games they have played this season. 

• The Cheetahs have also already accumulated four red cards across all competitions this season.

Tanjong Pagar United: Kenji Rusydi, Naqiuddin Eunos, Aaron Michael Evans (C), Kim Likwan, Faizal Roslan, Raihan Rahman, Lim Hyunsub, Zenivio Morientes Mota, Bruno Dybal, Shodai Nishikawa, Youssef Ezzejjari Lhasnaoui

Unused subs: Matthew Silva, Sunny Tia, Azim Akbar, Syahrul Sazali, Syed Muhammad Akmal, Emmeric Ong, Estevez Tsai Emilio, Danish Haqimi, Aloysius Pang, Samuel Pillai, Danny Ali, Lim Xuan Hui

Hougang United: Ridhuan Barudin, Yuma Suwa, Kanok Kongsimma, Ryaan Sanizal (C), Jordan Vestering, Chonlawit Kanuengkid, Huzaifah Aziz (Nabilai Kibunguchy 84’), Settawut Wongsai (Parinya Nusong 70’), Victor Blasco Llorens (Rauf Sanizal 90+6’), Farhan Zulkifli (Haiqal Pashia 90+6’), Yotsakon Burapha

Unused subs: Zharfan Rohaizad, Rauf Erwan, Rishon Soroya, Brant Tan, Adam Ali, Syady Sufwan, Woo Chun Wei, Algirdas Karlonas

Red card - Yuma Suwa (Hougang) 52’