Young Lions shock Warriors to win first game in 17 months

Bottom side Garena Young Lions claimed their first S.League win of the season after defeating Warriors FC 1-0 away at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Saturday night.

Haiqal Pashia's second-half goal was enough to help Vincent Subramaniam's side collect their first victory since May 2016 when they defeated the same opponents 3-1 at Jalan Besar Stadium.

However, much of the credit have to go to their goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad, who pulled off a series of saves to keep the 2014 S.League champions at bay.

He was kept busy in the first half, tipping over Hafiz Osman's header from Fazli Jaffar's inswinging corner on 14 minutes before denying Andrei Ciolacu's snapshot from close range nine minutes later.

The 20-year-old, who took the captaincy in the absence of Illyas Lee, then showed safe hands on 28 minutes to smother a Ciolacu free kick from 25 yards out.

Warriors continued to be thwarted by Zharfan in the second half, with the custodian denying Fazli in a one-on-one opportunity on 52 minutes after the latter was slipped through on goal by Hafiz Nor.

Those saves proved to be crucial as the Young Lions broke the deadlock against the run of play 11 minutes later.

Taufik Suparno's cross from the right byline picked out Haiqal, who found space to nod past Warriors' stand-in keeper Zainol Gulam into the bottom left corner.

Warriors piled on the pressure in the final 20 minutes, but were unable to find a way past an inspired Zharfan.

The custodian denied Fazli in another one-on-one opportunity in the 76th minute, before getting back in time seven minutes later to prevent an Ammirul Emmran own goal.

Luck was certainly not with the Warriors. Captain-on-the-night Jordan Webb finally managed to beat Zharfan on 85 minutes, but his effort came agonisingly off the bar.

Time soon ran out for Razif Onn's side and they now have to look over their shoulders for fourth place. They are level on points with Geylang International, but have played a game more.

The result gives Young Lions a glimmer of hope of avoiding finishing wooden sponsors again as they trail eighth-placed Brunei DPMM by five points.

Warriors FC: Zainol Gulam (GK), Ang Zhi Wei, Hafiz Osman, Kento Fukuda, Zulfadli Zainal, Ridhuan Muhammad (Fadhil Noh 74'), Jordan Webb (C), Firdaus Kasman, Fazli Jaffar (Ho Wai Loon 84'), Hafiz Nor, Andrei Ciolacu (Shahril Ishak 58')

Garena Young Lions: Zharfan Rohaizad (GK, C), Rusyaidi Salime, Amirul Adli, Faizal Roslan, Syahrul Sazali, Armin Maier, Hami Syahin, Hafiz Sulaiman (Ammirul Emmran 46'), Zulqarnaen Suzliman (Yeo Hai Ngee 88'), Haiqal Pashia, Taufik Suparno (Shameer Aziq 69')