Fourth S-League Crown For Tampines

SINGAPORE (5 Nov 2012) – Tampines Rovers picked up their forth S-League crown this week when they beat Malaysia’s Harimau Muda 1-0 in the final game of the season to push Brunei’s DPMM FC as the season’s bridesmaid.

Needing to win to make sure that the title is theirs, Tampines were all over an under-strength Harimau Muda side. And it took a spot-kick in the 42^nd minute, for them to score the only goal in the game off a penalty that was earned by Aleksandr Duric and converted by Mustafic Fahrudin.

Duric acknowledged his cunning inside the box gave the Stags the crucial advantage.

“I was waiting for the guy (Shahrul) to come at me as the ball was in my non-shooting right leg, it’s my weaker leg and I don’t shoot with it,” he explained.

“I pushed the ball out and he tackled my leg, from which I fell. It was a gamble because we weren’t sure whether a penalty would be given or otherwise.”

Countered Ong Kim Swee, the chief coach of Harimau Muda: “Congratulations to Tampines Rovers for winning the title. My players passed our test (to cope with the high-pressure situation of the title decider), but the referee failed our test.

“They have been in this situation before and generally handled it well. They showed character today, playing against adults without our best players.

“On that Noh Alam Shah tackle, what was he trying to do? For a player of such experience, having played in the Indonesian league, he shouldn’t be going for the leg instead of the ball.

“My players don’t play like that, even though they have been very frustrated this season. They have learnt well to control their tempers.

 “As for the penalty, I have to review the video. I can only say that Duric is experienced, while the referee is inexperienced.”

Closest challenger DPMM FC ended the season with a loss at home when Balestier Khalsa outplayed them 2-0 in Bandar Seri Begawan.

FINAL S-LEAGUE 2012 STANDINGS