The Korean star, Park Kang Jin went ahead as a substitute after a long-standing spell out with injury, yet the Tigers paid for squandering their chances as the Cheetahs returned away with three points.

Balestier Khalsa respected the reappearance of star man Park Kang Jin on Friday night, however he was unsuccessful to bring the team into victory as they went down 2-1 to Hougang United at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

The Korean playmaker has finished the full 90 minutes of the game, his third appearance on the campaign after missing most of his team’s game this season due to injury. The extensive nonattendance corresponded with six-game winless streak that ended after they won against Harimau Muda last Wednesday.

Balestier tried to expand on that by bringing on Park halfway at the second half at 1-1 and he almost made a goal within five minutes, jabbing a shot distressingly wide of the far post.

While the Cheetahs ended the game triumphantly, the substitute did make instantaneous improvement to Balestier's offensive play in spite of clearly not being match-fit.

After the match, coach Marko Kraljevic revealed that the 25-year-old had only prepared for one week, expressing that he required more time to recapture his structure. The German-Croat then emphasized Park's imperativeness, as he has done so frequently before, comparing him to an alternate Premier League star in the wake of contrasting him with Liverpool's, Coutinho a week ago.

"Arsenal, they didn't win the championship because of Ozil [although] they have many other world-class players," he called attention to, alluding to the German star's injury issues throughout the Gunners' title run-in.

Balestier will unquestionably trust for Park to be once more taking care of business soon as they are situated to lose an alternate star in skipper Paul Cunningham.

Actually, the Tigers made enough opportunities to win even without Park. Kim Min-ho struck the bar when the game was still goal-less, while Goran Ljubojevic was denied by Fadhil Salim's outstanding block while waltzing through Hougang’s defence earlier in the second half.

Geison Moura made them pay on the 60th minute mark, sidefooting home a fine first-time finish off of Fairoz Hasan's low cross.

That ended up being the decider after Ljubojevic's penalty had cancelled out Diego Gama's corner, which had twisted straight into goal for the opener.

Ruhaizad Ismail's fabulous dipping strike went barely over the bar late on as Hougang hold on for a clinical win, notwithstanding Balestier having the better of the second half. It was a triumph that satisfied Amin Nasir, who saw his team tumble to a surprising loss against the Courts Young Lions a week ago.

"Its very crucial for us to win tonight, the boys needed to bounce back and today's game was very important for their morale," Amin said. "I am glad they responded tonight."

The former Singapore international likewise communicated his fulfilment at his team's performances after the first round of matches, expressing that they were "comfortable" with wearing the underdogs label and would continue giving their best.

He stated, "It won't be right for me to say we’re going for a top-three finish; we managed to be at the sixth position [currently] and we will try to maintain it."

Kraljevic was left to regret one laps in fixation for yet an alternate thrashing in a baffling campaign so far, however trusts his side can improve in the remaining matches.

"Of course it’s disappointing," Kraljevic admitted. "It’s just some individual mistake and then we conceded a goal. You miss [chances], then you concede, this is football.”

"I think we can do better, I really do."

Since the time of assuming control over the reigns from V.kanan, Jorg Steinebrunner has stunningly lifted Geylang International as far as both execution and results as his side went on a seven-game unbeaten streak.

In any case, the Eagles' late 4-2 defeat by Albirex Niigata (S) has put a stop to that as Steinebrunner endured his first annihilation as Geylang coach.

However, that lost did not appear to bother the German gaffer as he pondered over what he thought was a great execution from his squad.

Steinebrunner said, “The lost would have still come one day, and that day is today.”

“I rather we concede four goals in one game than lose 1-0 for four games.”

“We were unfortunate to go down 1-0 because we gave the ball away cheaply but we went on to apply pressure and came back, thanks to Fabian who would have scored the goal of the year.”

The previous S. League guard was frustrated his group neglected to clutch their lead, and rather yielded to the Japanese side in a baffling way.

“The lead we had was deserved but the second goal we conceded could have been avoided because no one picked out the centre-back who made a long run to equalise.”
“What disappoints me is the fact that we had a helping hand in those four goals we conceded.”

“Defending is not just done by two or three players, it is done by the whole team. Earlier, we were not ruthless in defending,” Steinebrunner added.

Albirex coach Tatsuyuki Okuyama was justifiably content with his group's execution, as they picked up their second win in three matches.

Tatsuyuki said, “I am very satisfied with the result. Few of my players did not play well in the first half, that’s why we lost the ball unnecessarily.”

“I told them at half-time to improve and our midfield got better in the second half.”

Tremendously fulfilled by what he saw, the coach said that this match was a genuine impression of his side's capacity.

“The whole game showed our style and how we desire to play, so there is nothing else I could ask for.”

Presently in the second level of Malaysian football, the second string side for the rich Johor club are continuously prepared for entry into Singapore football.

Johor Football Association (JFA) president, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has affirmed huge plans that are in the works for both Johor groups, Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) and Johor Darul Takzim II (JDT II).

In a press conference on Tuesday, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim or better known as TMJ, has communicated his longing to withdraw JDT II from the Malaysian Premier League to compete in the S. League next season.

“We are considering placing the team in the Singapore football league by November as it is better and will give the younger players more exposure,” TMJ told the reporters.

Tunku Ismail added that he was eager to pay RM 300,000 (USD 92,400) in fines to the Football Association of Malaysia for the planned withdrawal.

As indicated by the terms of the Memorandom of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Football Associations of Singapore and Malaysia in 2011, every country could give an Under-23 side to contend in the other's domestic competition. Singapore’s LionsXII side features players over the age of 23 while the current Malaysian entrants in the S. League, Harimau Muda B, is an Under-21 side who is on a troubling 10-game losing streak.

Currently, there are three foreign teams taking an interest in the S. League, with Brunei DPMM and Albirex Niigata being long haul members.

JDT II are mulling in mid-table in Malaysia's second tier, which is of very distant pace from an automatic promotion spot to the Super League.

The aggressive Johor Crown Prince, additionally plot a few different advancements, including the building of another 50,000 capacity stadium on a man-made island between Johor and Singapore, with the land reclamation process already started.

He likewise included that the state's ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has consented to buy a private jet plane to be utilized to transport the squad for match days.

The 2-1 defeat to Albirex Niigata on Thursday evening at Jalan Besar Stadium was the Courts Young Lions' sixth misfortune of the season after seven games, however coach Aide Iskandar is not even dreadful about it.

Rather, Aide highlighted that his players were in the process of learning the drills of professional setting.

Aide said that, “In general I was quite happy with the way they approached this game, but again the goals we conceded we could have avoided.”
“These boys are still young, but I wouldn’t want to use this excuse a lot, and I think they need to step up, they need to learn.“

The Courts Young Lions’ coach likewise figured out how to discover a few positives in spite of the defeat, particularly after the absence of players has constrained him. The coach was set to begin with Sherif El Masri playing in the left-back part, instead of his common position on the flanks.

Aide added that, “To be fair, we played a quality team you know, Albirex is a good team so it is a good experience for this side.”

“The second goal really killed us because we were trying to search for the equaliser, but I got to give credit to the boys for their last ten minutes, they pushed, they wanted to get a goal and we got one but unfortunately we couldn’t get the second one,” Aide continues.

Albirex head coach, Tatsuyuki Okuyama was unsurprisingly disappointed with the triumph in the wake of seeing his squad misused some gilt-edged opportunities to extend their lead.

Tatsuyuki has over and again grieved after matches about his squad's recklessness in front of goal and tonight was no difference for the coach.

“I am happy but I cannot be happy, because we couldn’t score enough,“ noted Tatsuyuki.

“Young Lions are a very good team, we knew it was very difficult to defend against their offense so we should have scored more to beat them,” Tatsuyuki continues.

Notwithstanding having three wins from their last four games, the Japanese coach likewise cautioned his side that they couldn't stand to rest on their glory.

“I am satisfied with the recent results, we are having very tough games but we have a very young team so we have to improve through the season,“ the Japanese coach concluded.

The defending Malaysia Super League champions, LionsXII defeated the same rivals away in Selayang a week back. The champions are eager to do likewise back at home.

The face off happened just a week ago and the LionsXII and Sime Darby FC will crash again on their meeting at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday evening.

The defending Malaysia Super League champions left Selayang then having gained a 2-0 triumph, another three points will do okay for Fandi Ahmad's men, as they attempt to climb up the table.

The LionsXII have now won three of their last four matches and drawn the remaining one, a run that has seen them surge to fourth.

They are now just four points behind the leader, Pahang FA at the halfway point of the league. A win on Saturday’s match against Sime Darby will put them forward towards the top position.

The form of Captain Safuwan Baharudin has been very instrumental recently with the centre-back striking for the third successive game against Sime Darby for the opening goal.

Made in resistance and a danger forthright, the 22-year-old is a key player for the LionsXII.

Another vital player is striker Khairul Amri, who finished a four-game goal drought by finally scoring the second goal.

Frequently tasked to lead the line on his own, Amri's diligent work often goes unnoticed; however, the 29-year-old's hold-up play and savage nature are critical to Fandi's strategy.

Fandi will need to choose whether to hold Madhu Mohana over Afiq Yunos at the back after playmaker, Zulfahmi Arifin ought to be in contention for a beginning compartment in the wake of missing the last game because of suspension.

The visitors will be looking to give a finer record of them than they finished back home while Coach Ismail Zakaria will be boosted by the reappearance of Uzbek attacker, Dilshod Sharofetdinov from suspension. In like manner, striker Fahrul Razi Kamaruddin and defender K.

Prabakaran will be welcomed back while new import forward, Mateo Roskam is relied upon to make his debut.

Sime Darby did demonstrate that they could inflict inconvenience against the LionsXII, who had goalkeeper, Izwan Mahbud to thank for a couple of blinding saves.

It won't be a simple ride for the hosts, who have shown they have trouble executing games off this season.