Tampines close in on S.League summit as Warriors pay penalty

Tampines Rovers moved four points behind S.League leaders Albirex Niigata (S) on Thursday evening after recording a hard-fought 1-0 win over Warriors FC at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

In his return following a long injury layoff, Tampines striker Fazrul Nawaz made a vital contribution as he won a penalty in the closing stages, which was converted by Shahdan Sulaiman for the only goal of the game.

Although the Stags have not exactly fired on all cylinders in 2017, there is no denying they are firmly in title contention. A third straight win sees them the closest challengers to defending champions Albirex.

Nonetheless, they would have entered Thursday's clash expecting a tough test against a Warriors side brimming with experience, and also looking to mount their own title charge.

Following a tentative start to the contest, it was Warriors who had the first clear opening on the half-hour mark.

After Shahril Ishak did well to cut the ball back into his path, Fadhil Noh looked to be in an excellent position to break the deadlock, only for Fahrudin Mustafic to weigh in with a crucial block.

A minute later, the visitors went straight up the other end. Warriors keeper Zainol Gulam did well to deny Imran Sahib from close range.

Shahdan was next to threaten for the Stags, with a decent attempt from the left, but he narrowly failed to hit the target, having beaten Zainol.

Six minutes after the break, the hosts came excruciatingly close to opening the scoring.

Having done well to climb high and meet Hafiz Nor's corner, Baihakki Khaizan got enough purchase on his header, and could only watch on in despair as it came back off the bar.

As the game entered its closing stages, it looked as though a point apiece would be an acceptable result for both teams.

But, with eight minutes remaining, Fazrul -- who made his long-awaited return from a knee injury as a 65th-minute substitute -- won his side a penalty after being felled by Zulfadli Zainal Abidin inside the area.

It was Shahdan who stepped up to the spot and, as he has shown many times in the past, his composure was telling as he calmly sent Zainol the wrong way to win it for Tampines.

In Thursday's other game, 10-man Balestier Khalsa were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom side Garena Young Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium.

Balestier played more than 30 minutes shorthanded after defender Tajeli Salamat received a second yellow card just after the hour.

Warriors FC: Zainol Gulam, Emmeric Ong, Baihakki Khaizan, Kento Fukuda, Zulfadli Zainal Abidin, Syaqir Sulaiman, Shaiful Esah, Hafiz Nor, Shahril Ishak, Fazli Jaffar, Fadhil Noh (Jordan Webb 66')

Tampines Rovers: Haikal Hasnol, Fazli Ayob, Jufri Taha, Fahrudin Mustafic, Daniel Bennett, Shakir Hamzah, Shahdan Sulaiman, Son Yong-chan, Imran Sahib (Jamil Ali 75'), Ryutaro Megumi (Hafiz Abu Sujad 73'), Diego Silvas (Fazrul Nawaz 65')