Hisatoshi Nishido scored twice as Young Lions beat Hougang United 2-0 at Bishan Stadium on Saturday 31 October, ending a 10-match winless run that stretched back across two Singapore Premier League seasons. The result lifts the developmental side to seventh on three points and drops Hougang to the foot of the eight-team table with one.
It is the Young Lions’ first league win since a 1-0 victory over Tanjong Pagar United on 10 April, at the end of last season. Before Saturday, they had lost all five of their games this term, conceding 21 goals along the way.
Nishido strikes early
The opener came inside five minutes. Kai Whitmore found Nishido on the right, and the Japanese midfielder swivelled and curled a left-footed shot into the top corner.
Hougang thought they were level in the 56th minute. Connor Flynn-Gillespie rose to head past Izwan Mahbud, but a video assistant referee review caught the Scottish striker offside and the goal was struck off.
The Young Lions then had the chance to settle it. Hougang captain Zulqarnaen Suzliman was penalised for handball in the box in the 64th minute, only for Miyu Sato to drag the penalty wide of Takahiro Koga’s post.
Nishido made the miss irrelevant nine minutes later. He dribbled past three Hougang players and curled his shot beyond Koga for 2-0.
A run that had to end
The Young Lions’ start had been punishing rather than hopeless. After a 4-0 opening defeat by FC Jurong, they scored first against Geylang International, Lion City Sailors and Tampines Rovers, then lost those games 5-1, 6-1 and 4-1. A 2-1 defeat by Balestier Khalsa followed.
Coach Firdaus Kassim put the difference down to depth. “We were struggling with the numbers this season,” he said after the match, adding that his bench gave the team “a little bit more balance” to last the full game this time.
Hougang’s slide reaches five
The Cheetahs opened with a 2-2 draw against champions Lion City Sailors, then lost 3-0 to Jurong, 2-1 to Balestier, 2-1 to Tanjong Pagar, 3-0 to Geylang and now 2-0 here. They have scored four goals and conceded 14 in six games, and went into this one without Milos Drincic, sent off in their previous match.
Akbar Nawas did not dress it up. “There is no point making excuses,” the Hougang coach said. His side, he added, had “to take a hard look at ourselves, reflect on where we are falling short and understand what needs to change.”
Where both sides stand
The Young Lions have won one, lost five, scored six and conceded 21 for a goal difference of minus 15. Hougang have drawn one and lost five, with a goal difference of minus 10.
Matchweek 6 is the last round before the November international break: Balestier Khalsa host Lion City Sailors and Tampines Rovers meet Geylang International on Sunday. The Young Lions return against Tanjong Pagar on 21 November, and Hougang face Tampines Rovers a day later on 22 November.
