Tanjong Pagar suffer worst defeat this SPL season in 6-0 loss to Lion City Sailors

SINGAPORE – With “nothing to lose” against the Lion City Sailors in their Singapore Premier League clash on Sept 14, cellar dwellers Tanjong Pagar United threw bodies forward in search of goals.

While that ultimately proved futile as the Jaguars suffered their season’s worst defeat in a 6-0 loss at the Jurong East Stadium, interim coach Hyrizan Jufri defended his decision to play offensive football.

The 53-year-old said after the match: “I’ll take full responsibility for (this result), because at no point in the game did I tell them to actually sit back.

“I’ll not stop here. I have to be honest with you, at the end of the day, we have nothing to lose. I’m here to actually create something from negative to positive.

“The only way to win games (is to) go forward as much. Now, the key part I try to work on is the risks we take at the back and what we can do better when we are defending.”

The Jaguars extended their winless streak to seven and remain at the bottom of the nine-team table.

The Sailors, who made seven changes to the side who drew 2-2 with Geylang International, started without Bart Ramselaar, Maxime Lestienne and Lennart Thy.

They moved to the top after BG Tampines Rovers dropped to second on goal difference following a 2-2 draw with the Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic empathised with Hyrizan, adding: “I wish him all the best because it can be very hard when you take over a team in the middle of the season, so to get his idea of playing is going to need some more time.”

He added that they are not focusing on their league position as there is still a long way to go.

The Sailors took the lead in the 32nd minute when Obren Kljajic was fouled in the box and Abdul Rasaq Akeem converted the resulting spot kick.

It was the 23-year-old striker’s first goal in his first appearance since a meniscus tear injury in 2023.

Two goals in a minute from Adam Swandi and Shawal Anuar then gave the visitors a 3-0 lead at half-time.

Both teams saw red in the second half, with Jaguars’ Timur Talipov sent off in the 49th minute for taking down Abdul Rasaq, who was through on goal, and Sailors’ M. Anumanthan following suit 15 minutes later for a lunge on Tomoki Wada.

Substitutes Ramselaar and Thy’s finishes in the 54th and 74th minute put the result beyond doubt, before Thy added gloss with an 82nd-minute header to take the score to 6-0.

Vowing to go “back to the basics” and shore up his defence, Hyrizan added: “Most of our defenders have this character and quality. It’s up to me to bring their full potential out of them.”

Analysis

The Jaguars’ lack of concentration and lacklustre defending cost them dearly against a Sailors attack capable of punishing anyone. They started with a back three in possession but they looked vulnerable at times and will have to fix that quickly for a better performance.