BG Tampines Rovers frustrated by 1-1 first-leg draw with BG Pathum United in S’pore Cup s-finals

SINGAPORE – It was a frustrating night for BG Tampines Rovers as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Thai side BG Pathum United in the first leg of their Singapore Cup semi-final at the Jalan Besar Stadium on April 16.

Stags coach Gavin Lee was left to rue their missed chances against the competition’s only invited side, who will have a month to prepare for the return leg on May 27 at the same venue.

The Rabbits, who are third in the 16-team Thai League 1, will end their league season on April 27, while the Stags will complete their Singapore Premier League campaign only on May 24.

“Frustration is an understatement,” said Lee. “Because I thought we did very well, especially in the first half, to (try to get) a bigger lead and then conceded a goal, which was quite silly on our part and I’m sure everybody’s not happy with that.

“We kept knocking on the door and kept creating chances. We just didn’t take them and we weren’t as ruthless as we should be.

“Because we haven’t played at this tempo for quite some time, this was like a Champions League (match), so we struggled to maintain quality for 90 minutes.”

With five SPL games left, Tampines are five points behind leaders Lion City Sailors, who have a game in hand. The Singapore Cup therefore represents the Stags’ best chance for silverware.

They got off to an electric start, taking the lead after just two minutes. A short corner from Glenn Kweh found Faris Ramli, who passed to Kyoga Nakamura and the Japan-born Singapore international crossed for defender Shuya Yamashita to head home.

But Pathum levelled in the 34th minute. Singapore international Ikhsan Fandi drove into the Tampines box and, amid a scramble in the area, Freddy Alvarez flicked the ball on for Kodai Tanaka to thump home the equaliser.

Despite their superior 70 per cent possession, the Stags found it hard to break down a deep-lying Pathum side as they pushed for a winner.

Ikhsan nearly made it 2-1 for Pathum in the 89th minute, but the forward sent his volley high and above Stags custodian Syazwan Buhari’s bar.

Pathum coach Supachai Komsilp said: “We conceded the goal early and that’s why it was difficult to control the game.

“They are good in possession and we were more passive, just defending and letting them attack too much.

“This is the first time we are playing them and they have good technical players, but let’s see in the second leg if we can come back stronger.”

In the other semi-final, the Sailors will face Brunei DPMM in the first leg at the Jalan Besar Stadium on April 22, with the second leg also on May 27.

Analysis

The Stags will have to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to make the final on May 31, with forward Itsuki Enomoto missing several chances.

They were unlucky to be undone by a counter-attack and will need to be prepared for a well-rested Pathum in the second leg.