S.League

---

S.League

---

A Fazrul Nawaz-inspired Tampines Rovers side edged Balestier Khalsa 3-2 at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night for their third successive S.League win.

Singapore international Fazrul laid on the first goal for strike partner Billy Mehmet and went on to score two himself, rendering strikes from Balestier duo Miroslav Kristic and Fadli Kamis immaterial.

Having scored 10 goals in their last two matches, Tampines came out with all guns blazing and it was to no surprise that they managed to break the deadlock after just six minutes.

Mustafic Fahrudin's header from Jermaine Pennant's corner was parried by Balestier goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam, but Fazrul kept it alive and teed up Mehmet to sweep home from close range via a deflection.

The Stags kept up the pressure thereafter and went close to doubling the advantage on 13 minutes, with Shakir Hamzah heading Pennant's inviting cross onto the post.

Balestier gradually settled into the game and had an excellent opportunity to level matters on the half-hour mark when Zulkiffli Hassim put Fazli Ayob through on goal, but the latter could only fire over under pressure from the onrushing Tampines custodian Joey Sim.

Tampines danger man Pennant limped off in the 37th minute due to a groin injury, but Irwan Shah proved to be an able replacement as he set up the Stags' second goal within six minutes of his introduction.

The 27-year-old laid on a clever reverse pass for Fazrul, who saw his initial shot blocked by Sheikh Abdul Hadi before firing home into the bottom left corner with his second attempt.

Trailing 2-0 at the break, Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic reacted with a double change that saw Fadhil Noh and Danial Farhan Tan coming on for Syafiq Zainal and Fazli respectively.

That gave the Tigers some fresh impetus going forward and they duly halved the deficit on 64 minutes. Niko Tokic's cleverly-scooped ball into the box teed up Kristic for a thumping finish past a stranded Joey Sim and into the top left corner.

However, their joy was cut short when Tampines restored their two-goal advantage 10 minutes later. Jordan Webb's teasing ball from the right went unchecked by the Balestier defence, to leave Fazrul stealing in at the back post to fire home an unerring left-footed finish.

Balestier would pull another goal back deep into injury time, with Fadli bundling home from close range after Tokic had won the duel with Sim to get a touch off Jamil AlI's free kick.

However, it proved to be too little too late for the Tigers with Kraljevic wondering what could have been.

"We started the game very slow and conceded early; then we had to open up and attack," said the German-Croat. "We handled things very nicely, but lost possession and conceded a third.

"Then we put pressure and scored again, but it was not enough for us. Still, we put a very good fight against one of the best teams in the league and we're at a better state now then the start of the season."

Meanwhile victorious coach Akbar Nawas was pleased to see his side hang on for yet another victory that narrowed the gap between them and leaders Albirex Niigata (S) to just four points.

"You saw what happened when Balestier got the goal back; I thought they would make it (get a draw) in the end, so we were quite lucky to win," he said.

"I think we took the pedal off the game after leading, but playing three games in nine days surely takes the toll on the players. To play a certain style of [attacking] football takes time; that will come with more trainings and games."

Balestier Khalsa: Zaiful Nizam (GK), Fadli Kamis, Sheikh Abdul Hadi, Nurullah Hussein, Hanafi Salleh, Syafiq Zainal (Fadhil Noh 46'), Fazli Ayob (Danial Farhan Tan 46'), Emir Lotinac, Zulkiffli Hassim (Jamil Ali 63'), Niko Tokic, Miroslav Kristic

Tampines Rovers: Joey Sim (GK), Jufri Taha, Mustafic Fahrudin (C), Shakir Hamzah, Jordan Webb (Christopher van Huizen 80'), Izzdin Shafiq, Yasir Hanapi, Hafiz Sujad, Jermaine Pennant (Irwan Shah 37'), Fazrul Nawaz, Billy Mehmet (Fabian Kwok 72')