AFC Champions League Two
A brace from Hide Higashikawa and one apiece from Takeshi Yoshimoto, Trent Buhagiar and Faris Ramli moved the Singapore side to 13 points, three clear of fellow-qualifiers FC Pohang Steelers. It was Philippines side Kaya FC-Iloilo’s fifth straight loss.
The hosts scored seven minutes in after a poor back pass from Kohya Kazama gifted the ball to Trent Buhagiar. The midfielder bolted down the right but with only Alfredo Cortez to beat, unselflessly squared for Higashikawa (pictured above, right), who side-stepped both defender Marco Casambre and the custodian before slotting the ball into an empty net.
Buhagiar also laid up for Shah Shahiran two minutes later, but the Singapore national team player’s first-time shot, while accurate, lacked the power to trouble Cortez.
Buhagiar also laid up for Shah Shahiran two minutes later, but the Singapore national team player’s first-time shot, while accurate, lacked the power to trouble Cortez.
Tampines’ keeper Syazwan Buhari had his first taste of action on the half-hour mark when he palmed away a rising 20-yard strike from Jesus Melliza following a corner where Higashikawa headed against his own crossbar in an attempt to clear the ball.
Cortez did well to handle Koya Kazama’s close-range effort in the 36th minute, but could not keep out the follow up from Yoshimoto, who beat two defenders before launching a low strike into the bottom right corner.
Cortez did well to handle Koya Kazama’s close-range effort in the 36th minute, but could not keep out the follow up from Yoshimoto, who beat two defenders before launching a low strike into the bottom right corner.
The America-born Cortez pulled off two consecutive saves before the break, batting down Glenn Kweh’s up-close shot and then palming away a stinging drive by Kazama from inside the area.
Higashikawa’s attempt at goal two minutes into the second half was well saved again by Cortez, who got down low to push the ball away from the striker’s feet, but the rebound fell to Buhagiar, who slammed the ball into an unguarded net.
Higashikawa’s attempt at goal two minutes into the second half was well saved again by Cortez, who got down low to push the ball away from the striker’s feet, but the rebound fell to Buhagiar, who slammed the ball into an unguarded net.
There was no denying Higashikawa, however, and the Japanese nabbed his brace in the 56th minute when he headed home at the far left post following a perfect lob by Kazama from the other side of the area.
Mike Ott pulled one back for Kaya FC-Iloilo in the 67th minute when he rose high above the Tampines’ backline to head into the bottom right past a stunned Syazwan following Jesus Melliza’s corner.
Mike Ott pulled one back for Kaya FC-Iloilo in the 67th minute when he rose high above the Tampines’ backline to head into the bottom right past a stunned Syazwan following Jesus Melliza’s corner.
Paolo Bugas, who had come on in the 72nd minute, managed to sneak down the left two minutes later and pounce on Syazwan’s save of Ott’s close range attempt, powering home a second for the Philippines side.
Kaya FC-Iloilo’s third landed after Amirul Adli turned the ball into his own net in the 85th minute, but Tampines’ Ramli made sure of their win just a minute later when he swept the ball past Cortez from a tight angle on the left.
Tampines will close their campaign against BH Pathum United of Thailand with Kaya FC-Iloilo taking on FC Pohang Steelers. Both matches are scheduled for December 1.
Kaya FC-Iloilo’s third landed after Amirul Adli turned the ball into his own net in the 85th minute, but Tampines’ Ramli made sure of their win just a minute later when he swept the ball past Cortez from a tight angle on the left.
Tampines will close their campaign against BH Pathum United of Thailand with Kaya FC-Iloilo taking on FC Pohang Steelers. Both matches are scheduled for December 1.
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