Matchday 4 of the Singapore Cup delivered more drama as Albirex Niigata (S) became the first team to book their spot in the semi-finals after securing a crucial point against Hougang United at Our Tampines Hub on Saturday (29 November). The last semi-final spot will then come down to either Balestier Khalsa or Hougang on the final matchday, after the Tigers were held to a 3-3 draw by Geylang International at the same venue on Sunday (30 November). 

White Swans punch ticket to semi-finals 

Hougang United 1-1 Albirex Niigata (S) | Our Tampines Hub | 29 November 

(Parinya Nusong 20' | Shingo Nakano 65') 

Albirex Niigata (S) battled to a 1-1 draw with Hougang United to clinch the first of two semi-final berths, thanks to a crucial equaliser from top scorer Shingo Nakano.

Having been a key contributor in the Cheetah’s last outing, Zharfan Rohaizad continued to impress, diving to his left to keep out Katsuyuki Ishibashi’s effort in the 11th minute.

Hougang, however, soon took the lead eight minutes later when a Huzaifah Aziz corner evaded two Albirex players at the front post, before finding its way through for Parinya Nusong to head home unchallenged. 

Zharfan was called into action again in the 31st minute when he repelled a tame effort from Shingo after the striker raced clear on goal. 

In the second half, a quick exchange with Yotsakon Burapha saw Farhan Zulkifli go on a mazy run towards goal in the 59th minute, but he sent his shot just too high of the target.

Albirex soon hit back through their talisman Shingo, who rose above two Hougang defenders in the 65th minute to meet a Naoki Yoshioka cross. His header crept over the line with the help of Takumi Yokohata, who smartly used his body to shield Zharfan from reaching the ball.

That proved to be the crucial moment that sealed Albirex’s place in the semi-finals.

Hougang United: Zharfan Rohaizad, Parinya Nusong (Haiqal Pashia 90+4’), Nabilai Kibunguchy, Ryaan Sanizal (C), Jordan Vestering (Rauf Sanizal 85’), Huzaifah Aziz, Chonlawit Kanuengkid, Farhan Zulkifli, Hugo Kametani (Ryohei Yoshihama 71’), Yotsakon Burapha, Settawut Wongsai

Unused subs: Ridhuan Barudin, Rauf Erwan, Kanok Kongsimma, Brant Tan, Syady Sufwan, Woo Chun Wei, Algirdas Karlonas

Albirex Niigata (S): Hassan Sunny, Nozomi Ozawa, Cho Eunsu, Kim Taeuk, Haziq Kamarudin (Nicky Melvin Singh 61’), Naoki Yoshioka, Jared Gallagher (Syed Firdaus Hassan 61’), Sim Jun Yen (Danish Qayyum 46’), Katsuyuki Ishibashi (Ren Nishimura 71’), FW Shingo Nakano (C), Takumi Yokohata

Unused subs: Takahiro Koga, Dylan Pereira, Komei Iida, Amy Recha, Syukri Bashir, Delwinder Singh, Soshi Kadowaki, Shakthi Vinayagavijayan

Tigers stumble in qualification bid 

Geylang International 3-3 Balestier Khalsa | Our Tampines Hub | 30 November 

(Riku Fukashiro 83’, Vincent Bezecourt 87’, Ryoya Taniguchi 90+5 | Tin Matic 14’, 22’, Lazar Vujanic 90+2) 

Balestier Khalsa semi-final hopes were dealt a blow as 10-man Geylang International came from behind twice to snatch a point. 

The Tigers drew first blood when Bogdan Mandic burst down the left flank and played a perfect ball into the box for Tin Matic to steer home the opener in the 14th minute. 

Things went from bad to worse for the Eagles just six minutes later when debutant Nizwan Izzairie picked up his second yellow card after he lunged into a challenge near the touchline.

The away side would capitalise quickly on their advantage when Matic latched onto a loose ball near the edge of the penalty box in the 22nd minute, before striking a controlled effort into the bottom corner to double his side’s advantage. 

Geylang – who were already out of contention prior to this game – were handed a lifeline in the second half when Harith Kanadi fouled Riku Fukashiro in the box, but Vincent Bezecourt was unable to capitalise as he saw his effort saved by Mario Mustapic. 

But it was a Tigers’ mistake that allowed the away side back into the game. In the 83rd minute, Lazar Vujanic was dispossessed by Fukashiro in the box, who slammed home Geylang’s first goal of the Singapore Cup campaign.

Still reeling from the goal, another defensive error from Balestier in the 87th minute – this time from Mario Subaric – was punished by Bezecourt, who made amends for his earlier penalty miss. 

With the score level, the Tigers thought they had won the game when Lazar Vujanic curled a long-range effort past Rudy Khairullah in the third minute of stoppage time.

But the Eagles refused to back down, as Ryoya Taniguchi scored a dramatic equaliser just two minutes later to ensure that the spoils were shared.

Balestier will head into Matchday 5 knowing that only a win against Hougang United will be enough for them to qualify for the semi-finals. 

Geylang International: Rudy Khairullah, Nizwan Izzairie, Joshua Pereira (C), Nikola Ignjatovic, Nazrul Nazari (Ko Jaehyun 84’), Shodai Yokoyama, Kaisei Ogawa, Riku Fukashiro (Ethan Pinto 90+3), Vincent Bezecourt, Ryoya Taniguchi, Shuhei Hoshino (Shahdan Sulaiman 65’)

Unused subs: Aniq Matin Zulfadli, Naufal Affandi, Danial Crichton, Raiyan Noor, Ryu Hardy, Ahmad Munthala Sriwaluya, Irfan Iskandar, Prince Rio Rifae'i, Nur Ikhsanuddin

Balestier Khalsa: Mario Mustapic, Darren Teh, Madhu Mohana (C), Mario Subaric, Harith Kanadi (Tajeli Salamat 76’), Masahiro Sugita, Lazar Vujanic, Daniel Goh (Ignatius Ang 76’), Jakov Katusa, Tin Matic (Elijah Lim 89’), Bogdan Mandic (Ifat Sha’aban 90+7) 

Unused subs: Martyn Mun, Hafiz Ahmad, Syabil Hisham, Tiago Barbosa Martins, Fudhil I’Yadh, Karthigaya Varmaan