Geylang United got off to a winning start in the Centre of Excellence U16 league at the First Toa Payoh Secondary School pitch on Saturday afternoon. It was an evenly contested affair between the two sides, which saw new head coaches leading the respective teams for the new season.
Travis Weilong Fujii’s spot kick three minutes before the interval set the pace after Zulhilmi Sokih handled a shot by Hafiz Baharuddin inside the 18-yard box. The match official showed no hesitation in awarding the spot kick, which Travis duly converted, despite Rams’ goalkeeper Nur Naimmullah guessing the right way.
On 64 minutes, it was another piece of set play that allowed the young Eagles to double their lead. Geylang won a free kick about 25m away from goal and Syed Qasim stepped up to float in a magnificent in-swinger that saw Naimmullah gasping the air as the ball headed for the top right corner.
Woodlands were handed a lifeline when the pulled one back on 78 minutes. Second half substitute Syalihin Sazali was given loads of time and space in the middle of the park. He played a lovely cross field pass onto the path of Nazrul Isnin on the left. Nazrul killed the ball with a deft touch, before toe poking the ball past on rushing Syafiq Baharudin to close the gap in the score line.
The young Eagles were made to work for this win, and were let off by Woodlands’ incapability to get the final ball delivered. A defensive lapse in the Geylang’s back line with four minutes remaining allowed Akmal Husnunna’im to through on goal. As he approached the by line, Akmal’s touch probably asked for too much of the boy, and he lost his footing before crossing straight at Syafiq Baharudin.
Geylang United held on for the win as the match referee blew for the final whistle moments later.
While the results have not been the best in the main league for the senior side, Geylang’s youth sides all notched up wins in all other age group categories on the opening day. The U14 squad beat Woodlands Wellington narrowly with a solitary goal while the U18s beating Tanjong Pagar 3-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Home United was the other team which notched wins in all categories.
Other COE League week one round up:
Under 14
Played on 30 March 2012
Hougang United FC 1-1 Singapore Sports School
Played on 31 March 2012
Geylang United FC 1-0 Woodlands Wellington FC
Gombak United FC 3-0 Tanjong Pagar United FC
Home United FC 5-2 Tampines Rovers FC
Balestier Khalsa FC 2-3 Singapore Armed Forces FC
Under 16
Played on 31 March 2012
Gombak United FC 2-0 Tanjong Pagar United FC
Home United FC 4-0 Tampines Rovers FC
Played on 1 April 2012
NFA Under-15 1-3 Singapore Armed Forces FC
Under 18
Played on 1 April 2012
Balestier Khalsa FC 2-0 Woodlands Wellington FC
Geylang United FC 1-0 Tanjong Pagar United FC
Gombak United FC 1-2 Tampines Rovers FC
Home United FC 4-2 Singapore Armed Forces FC
Hougang United FC 0-9 NFA Under 16
Suspensions in Week two
Nashrin Mansor (No.7 ,Woodlands Wellington FC U18) Suspended for next match.
Nicholas Lee (No. 9 ,Geylang United FC U18) Suspended for next match.
Fixtures in the upcoming week
Under 14
7April 2012
Tanjong Pagar United vs Home United, St Wilfrid, KO 5pm
Woodlands Wellington vs Gombak United, Marsiling Sec Sch, KO 5pm
Balestier Khalsa vs Geylang United, Orchid Park Sec Sch, KO 5pm
8 April 2012
Tampines Rovers vs Hougang United, Bowen Sec Sch, KO 3pm
Singapore Sports School U13 vs Singapore Armed Forces, Sports School, KO 6pm
Under 16
5 April 2012
Singapore Sports School U15 vs NFA U15, Spore Sports School, KO 730pm
7 April 2012
Tampines Rovers vs Hougang United, Kallang Practice Track, KO 3pm
Tanjong Pagar United vs Home United, St Wilfrid, KO 3pm
Woodlands Wellington vs Gombak United, Marsiling Sec Sch, 3pm
Balestier Khalsa vs Geylang United, Orchid Park Sec Sch, 3pm
Under 18
8 April 2012
Spore Armed Forces FC vs Hougang United, Jurong Stadium, KO 3pm
Tampines Rovers vs Home United, Serangoon Stadium, KO 3pm
Tanjong Pagar United vs Gombak United, St Wilfrid, KO 3pm
Balestier Khalsa vs Geylang United, Kallang Practice Track, KO 3pm
NFA U16 vs Woodlands Wellington, Spore Sports School, KO 3pm
