Brunei DPMM continued to stay top of Group A after defeating Albirex Niigata (S), while Young Lions produced a shock win over Hougang United to keep their semi-final hopes alive. In Group B, Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United continued their unbeaten start with a narrow win over Balestier Khalsa. We recap all the action here… 

Cheetahs stunned

Hougang 0-3 Young Lions | Jalan Besar | 1 March
Fairuz Fazli 17', Kaisei Ogawa pen. 45'+5, Nazrul Nazari O.G. 52'

After Fairuz thumped Young Lions ahead with a brilliant volley, Hougang were reduced to 10 men due to Zaiful Nizam’s sending off and Ogawa then doubled the lead from the spot. Fairuz’s cross was then diverted by Nazrul into his own net to complete a disappointing night for Hougang. 

Facts

• Hougang have now lost back-to-back games under the interim charge of Robert Eziakor for the first time. 

• Young Lions won by a three-goal margin for just the second time in 2024/25 – the first one came in a league victory against DPMM earlier in October 2024.

Hougang: Zaiful Nizam (GK), Nazrul Nazari (C), Nazhiim Harman, Daniel Henrique, Jordan Vestering, Zulfahmi Arifin, Ismail Salihović (Shahdan Sulaiman 46’), Gabriel Quak (Isaac Jonathan 45’+3), Shodai Yokoyama, Stjepan Plazonja (Tan-Vaissierre Louka 77’), Hazzuwan Halim (Farhan Zulkifli 67’). 

Unused subs: Anders Aplin, Danish Irfan, Justin Hui, Zamani Zamri, Ratthathammanun Deeying. 

Young Lions: Umayr Sujuandy (GK), Aqil Yazid (Ethan Pinto 55’), Bill Mamadou, Ryaan Sanizal (C), Raoul Suhaimi (Syafi Nur Hilman 80’), Jun Kobayashi, Kaisei Ogawa (Fathullah Rahmat 67’), Fairuz Fazli (Danial Crichton 80’), Danish Qayyum (Andrew Aw 67’), Kan Kobayashi, Amir Syafiz. 

Unused subs: Rauf Erwan (GK), Ryu Hardy, Rasul Ramli, Ryan Vishal. 

Red Card – Zaiful Nizam (Hougang) 45’+2

Rabbits looking good

Balestier 1-2 BG Pathum | Bishan | 2 March

Anton Fase 9' | Patrik Gustavsson 13', Nattawut Suksum 45+2'

After Fase’s unerring strike for Balestier was quickly cancelled out by Gustavsson’s fine header, BG Pathum were then reduced to 10 men due to Nuttawut Wongsawang’s sending off. However, the visitors managed to take the lead with Nattawut netting the rebound after his initial penalty was saved. Saranon Anuin then saved a late penalty from Balestier’s Kodai Tanaka to preserve the points for BG Pathum. 

Facts

• BG Pathum continued their fine start to the Cup, with two wins and a draw so far.

• Fase has two goals in as many Singapore Cup appearances for Balestier. 

Balestier: Ho Tung Han (GK), Fudhil I’yadh (Sheikh Faris 80’), Cher Garang, Madhu Mohana (C), Harith Kanadi, Darren Teh (Amiruldin Asraf 80), Jared Gallagher, Reycredo Bukit (Ignatius Ang 24’), Riku Fukashiro, Anton Fase (Elijah Lim 40’), Kodai Tanaka. 

Unused subs: Martyn Mun (GK), Hafiz Ahmad (GK), Emmeric Ong, N Sakthivelchezhian, Abdil Qaiyyim.  

BG Pathum: Saranon Anuin (GK), Thanet Suknate, Hwang Myeonghyeon, Nuttawut Wongsawang, Sanchai Nontasila (Thanakon Papaphe 83’), Seydine N’Diaye (C) (Khatawut Poladao 63’), Teerapat Pruetong (Wachirawut Saenchek 69’), Nattawut Suksum, Patrick Gustavsson (Anan Samaae 83’), Ilhan Fandi (Kongnat Thuamthongdee 69’), Kodai Tanaka. 

Unused subs: Jung Hyeon-ho (GK), Issarapong Waewdee (GK). 

Red Card – Nuttawut Wongsawang (BG Pathum) 25’

DPMM look set for semi-finals

DPMM 3-1 Albirex | Jalan Besar | 3 March 

Dāvis Ikaunieks 29', 88', Nurikhwan Othman 72' | Shingo Nakano 80'

Ikaunieks benefitted from Gabriel Gama’s fine backheel pass to put DPMM ahead, before Nurikhwan nodded home Miguel Olivera’s corner to double their advantage. Nakano pulled one back with a tap-in, but DPMM sealed the win through another opportunistic finish from Ikaunieks. 

Facts

• Albirex are out of the competition after three straight group defeats. 

• Ikaunieks netted back-to-back braces for DPMM for the first time since joining in the mid-season transfer window. 

DPMM: Kristijan Naumovski (GK), Nazry Aiman, Nurikhwan Othman, Damir Muminović, Najib Tarif, Abdul Hariz Herman (Azwan Saleh 79’), Azwan Ali Rahman (C) (Hanif Farhan 84’), Miguel Oliveira, Nazirrudin Ismail (Hariz Danial Khallidden 36’), Gabriel Gama, Dāvis Ikaunieks. 

Unused subs: Haimie Nyaring (GK), Syafiq Safiuddin, Faturrahman Embran, Farshad Noor, Hanif Hamir, Wafi Aminuddin.

Albirex: Hassan Sunny (GK), Ryhan Stewart, Stevia Egbus Mikuni, Gareth Low (Syed Firdaus Hassan 60’), Junki Yoshimura, Naoki Yoshioka, Yohei Otake, Arshad Shamim (Haziq Kamarudin 46’), Maeda Taiki (Daniel Goh 76’), Shuhei Hoshino (C), Shingo Nakano. 

Unused subs: Dylan Pereira (GK), Amy Recha, Syukri Bashir, Syahrul Sazali, Hilman Norhisam, Kenji Austin.