BoLASEPaKO.com - A Blog on Singapore Football

 ACL2023 - Lion City Sailors 2-0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 081123 Lion City Sailors upset Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Lion City Sailors caused an upset at home when they defeated two-time AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC 2-0 at JBS. Curaçao international Richairo Zivkovic was the hero of the night for his brace (23‎'‎, 55‎') in the game. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES Singapore Cup Final - Lion City Sailors 3-1 Hougang United 091223 Lionel Tan (left) and Zharfan Rohaizad savour the joy Lion City Sailors secured their first Singapore Cup title by defeating last year's winners Hougang United 3-1 at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Both Lionel Tan (left) and Zharfan Rohaizad savour the moment of joy after the match. This is Lionel's back-to-back winners' medal, he won the Cup last year, ironically, with Hougang United. Scorers: Richairo Živković pen. 27’, Maxime Lestienne 42’, Shawal Anuar 81’ | Kazuma Takayama 90’+1 PLEASE CLICK HERE T

International Friendly - Singapore 3-1 Chinese Taipei 120923 Lionel Tan (9) scored again for Singapore  Singapore ended their winless streak by beating Chinese Taipei 3-1 at the Bishan Stadium. The victory was even sweeter for the Lions, as this was their first victory over the Blue Wings after losing back-to-back in their previous meetings. Scorers: Ange Samuel Kouame 29' | Song Uiyoung 42' (P), Lionel Tan 65', Shawal Anuar 82' PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE PICTURES SGPL - Albirex Niigata (Singapore) 5-0 Hougang United 160923 Albirex Niigata (Singapore) - SPL champions 2023  It wasn't an ideal result for Hougang United Football Club who must quickly regroup themselves from this crushing defeat by Albirex Niigata FC Singapore before they begin their AFC Cup campaign in days to come. The reigning champions were presented the Singapore Premier League trophy shortly after a show of appreciation to both Tadanari Lee and Hyrulnizam Juma'at whom both will

 SGPL - Lion City Sailors 3-2 Albirex Niigata (S) 210523 LCS' GK Zharfan Rohaizad got ahead of ALbirex's Tadanari Lee Lion City Sailors came back from a two-goal deficit at half-time to beat reigning champions Albirex Niigata (Singapore) 3-2 at the Bishan Stadium. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES SGPL - Lion City Sailors 1-1 Tampines Rovers 070623 Stags' Kopitovic refused a helping hand from LCS' Lopes A draw was not what Lion City Sailors and Tampines Rovers wanted in their Singapore Premier League title race, with the former missing out on narrowing the gap with the second-placed Stags and league leaders Albirex Niigata (Singapore). PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES International Friendly - Singapore 2-2 Papua New Guinea 160623 Hariss Harun (14) made sure he got it covered Both Adam Swandi and Shawal Anuar found their first-half efforts being cancelled out by the visiting Papua New Guineans in the Lions' homecoming ma

 SGPL - Lion City Sailors 3-1 Tanjong Pagar United 240223 Both Sailors and Jags anticipating a ball into the box Lion City Sailors opened their Singapore Premier League campaign with a sweet victory over Tanjong Pagar United in their homecoming at the Bishan Stadium. Japanese ace striker Kodai Tanaka marked his Sailors' debut with a brace from close range in second half. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF THE MATCH PICTURES SGPL - Balestier Khalsa 2-3 Hougang United 260223 Balestier Khalsa's Ryoya Taniguchi (red shirt) surrounded by Hougang United players Hougang United claimed all three points at Bishan Stadium by beating Balestier Khalsa 3-2 in a scrappy encounter which is otherwise known as the "pinball" derby. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES SGPL - Geylang International 2-1 Hougang United 050323 Hougang United's players look on as Geylang International celebrate With Vincent Bezecourt's double in the second half, Geylang Internation

 SGPL - Lion City Sailors 2-4 Albirex Niigata (S) 081022 Albirex's supporters in jubilant mood after securing SPL title Albirex Niigata (Singapore) overpowered Lion City Sailors 4-2 to reclaim the Singapore Premier League title - their fifth league triumph since joining the Singapore football scene. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES Singapore Cup - Geylang International 2-3 Tampines Rovers 281022 What a crowded six-yard box  Good exciting game for the neutrals to see how Geylang International fought back from a two-goal deficit but saw a flash across from Stags' Kyoga Nakamura wrapped up all three points in the dying moments over their co-tenants. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES Singapore Cup Final - Hougang United 3-2 Tampines Rovers 191122 Cheetahs claimed their first major trophy in the professional era Hougang United clinched their first major trophy since joining the top flight when they beat Tampines Rovers 3-2 to win the Si

 SGPL - Hougang United 3-3 Albirex Niigata (Singapore) 050822 " STOP! LET ME HANDLE THIS!"  A see-saw battle at Hougang Stadium saw Hougang United Football Club (HGFC) and Albirex Niigata FC Singapore sharing the spoils with a three-all scoreline. The White Swans dropped two points to deny them from hitting the summit. (Scorers: Pedro Bortoluzo 62', 73', Shawal Anuar 85' - HGFC | Masahiro Sugita 12', Tadanari Lee 76', Masaya Idetsu 89' - ANS) PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES SGPL - Albirex Niigata (Singapore) 7-1 Young Lions 100822 YL's Joel Chew (center) making a breakthrough  Barely days ago after registered their second win of the campaign, it is back to the earth for Young Lions who were crushed by Albirex Niigata FC Singapore 7-1 at the Jurong East Stadium. (Scorers: Kodai Tanaka 21', 31', 65', Masahiro Sugita 23', Ilhan Fandi 35', Harhys Stewart O.G 59' - ANS | Reo Kunimoto O.G 90'+1- YL) PL

 SGPL - Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Tampines Rovers 260222 Aerial duel at Tigers-Stags game Balestier Khalsa came back from behind to salvage a draw with goals from Shuhei Hoshino and Ensar Brunčević in the second half. The Stags took a two-goal lead in the first half through Boris Kopitović and Taufik Suparno. The match also saw the return of Balestier's head coach Akbar Nawas to the local top flight after five years when he, ironically, stepped down from the Tampines Rovers' hot seat in 2017. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE PICTURES SGPL - Tanjong Pagar United 2-2 Hougang United 060322 Jags' 'keeper Zharfan ensured safety Shodai Nishikawa's 88th minute diving header salvaged a 2-2 for Tanjong Pagar United after they earlier surrendered the lead to Hougang United's two quick goals in 77' & 79'. Khairul Nizam opened the account in the 72nd minute for Jags. Tanjong Pagar United reclaimed the pacesetter role barely one day after their co-tenants Alb

SGPL - Albirex Niigata (Singapore) 1-2 Tanjong Pagar United 060821 Jags' GK Zharfan Rohaizad fisted away the danger Bounced from last week's defeat in the hands of Geylang International on the same venue, Tanjong Pagar United scored the biggest upset since their returning to the top-flight by beating defending AIA Singapore Premier League champions Albirex Niigata (Singapore) 2-1 last evening (6/8) at the Jurong East Stadium. Against the run of play, former White Swans star Reo Nishiguchi put the Jaguars ahead in the 33rd minute before it was cancelled out by Shuya Yamashita's header in the 81st minute. But Luiz Junior's audacious lob in the 84th minute confirmed their co-tenant's first defeat of the year. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES SGPL - Albirex Niigata (S) 4-1 Hougang United 130821 Ryosuke Nagasawa (middle) shielded the ball away from Cheetahs' Shahfiq Ghani  Right after last night's (13/8) AIA Singapore Premier League fixtur

Snapped this before I was ushered back to the main stand No one, except for Sembawang Rangers fans, knows why it was called the "Ibrahim Corner" at this part of Yishun Stadium, where I took my place here prior to the start of the S.League match between Harimua Muda and Albirex Niigata (Singapore) back in March 2012. But one thing is for sure, for many Stallions faithful in the past, this stand facing the main stand of the stadium holds many memories for them. This was the place where local football used to have some of its most passionate supporters congregated during the Stallions' home games in yesteryears until the club decided to pull out in 2003 because of financial difficulties. One of the things I remembered of these Sembawang supporters was in 2005 when they turned up in numbers at Ibrahim Corner to show their support to former Sembawang Rangers coach Vorawan Chitavanich, who was in charge of Tampines Rovers, at a league game against the Young Lions at this sta

Friendly - Geylang International 2-3 Hougang United 090621 Geylang's Moresche (left) and Hougang's Lionel Tan The Cheetahs walked away with a 3-2 over the Eagles in this friendly fixture at Our Tampines Hub. Geylang took the two-nil lead through Brazilian striker Moresche and Asshukrie Wahid before Gilberto Fortunato reduced the deficit from a spot-kick before interval to make it 2-1. Shahril Ishak and AIA Singapore Premier League leading scorer Tomoyuki Doi added one each after the break to make it 3-2 to seal the game for Hougang. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES Friendly - LCS 3-0 Geylang International 160721 Eye for the corner in this LCS-Geylang friendly at JBS Diego Lopes' second half hat-trick was deemed enough to help Lion City Sailors to beat Geylang International 3-0 at the Jalan Besar Stadium. This friendly fixture was the final match for both sides before the resuming of their AIA Singapore Premier League. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RE

 Friendly - Geylang International 2-1 Balestier Khalsa 060321 Balestier's 'keeper Zaiful Nizam stretched to his limit Like the players too, those on the sidelines must also have their preparation for the new season. One of the challenges taking pictures at places like OTH is the unpredictable shades that cover the field during a game. Therefore, playing around with the settings is part of the acclimatising too. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES SGPL - Balestier Khalsa 1-2 Tampines Rovers 170321 Balestier's Shuhei Hoshino (red) tussling with Tampines' Baihakki Khaizan The AIA Singapore Premier League match between Balestier Khalsa Football Club and Tampines Rovers Football Club started on time on a greasy field due to the heavy rain prior the game. Stags' Taufik Suparno opened the account in 56th minute before Amer Hakeem levelled for the Tigers in 67th minute but the hosts' joy was temporary when Boris Kopitovic placed Stags back on the po

Bishan Stadium is under the re-turfing process This is the current condition of the field of Bishan Stadium, the designated "home" ground of two Singapore Premier League (SGPL) clubs - Lion City Sailors and Balestier Khalsa, as seen from the nearby Bishan Sports Hall days ago. It was learned that such re-turfing of the natural grass surface would take approximately five to six months to complete and the process began late last year. NEW SEASON K.O. IN LATE FEB One recent Straits Times article suggested the Community Shield, the annual pre-season opener for the SGPL, will be staged on 20th February. If it is what the mentioned broadsheet suggested, the 2021 SGPL season is likely to kick off on the following weekend based on past scheduling of fixtures. However, given the present condition of the Bishan surface, it is understood Balestier Khalsa will play their home fixtures at Toa Payoh Stadium while LCS will be ground sharing the newly-refurbished Jalan Besar Stadium (JBS) w

SGPL - Tanjong Pagar Utd 1-1 Lion City Sailors 060320 Referee: "No, you listen to me!"  A gutsy performance by Tanjong Pagar United saw them marked their return to top-tier of local football with a 1-1 draw with Lion City Sailors, one of Singapore Premier League title favourites on 6/3 at Jurong East in front of 2,700 fans. The Jaguars took the lead in the 26th minute with a strike from Brazilian Yann Motta before it was cancelled out by Aussie striker Andy Pengelly in the 44th minute. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE MATCH PICTURES SGPL - Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Hougang United 180320 Stipe Plazibat (second from left) sandwiched in between this aerial duel  Skipper Zaiful Nizam's parried the ball out of play just before full-time to ensure Balestier Khalsa hang on to another 2-2 draw at home, this time against Hougang United at Bishan Stadium.⠀ ⠀ Tigers' Sime Zuzul triggered the scoreboard in the 37th minute with a close-range effort before i

Shahril Ishak roams into the box One snap (above) of Home United's Shahril Ishak like this in their recent Great Eastern Hyundai Singapore Premier League (SGPL) game against Hougang United should raise a concern about our chance in this year's AFF Suzuki Cup and the panic button should be pressed by now. WHY? First of all, take a look at this picture and what did you see? We have a free-roaming Shahril with his eyes on the ball making his way into the box in this attacking move. Any sane mind would be asking how could a veteran striker like him be given such a luxury of space by a backline? That was probably why Hougang's caretaker coach Clement Teo, seen in the background of this snap, gestured either to his back line to "watch out for Shahril!" or asked, " why no one is marking Shahril?" Eventually, both Justin Hui and Adam Mitter (who was released during the recent transfer window) arrived in time to keep the ex-JDT II skipper at bay.