Balestier Khalsa bid farewell to coach with 3-2 victory over Albirex Niigata
SINGAPORE – When Balestier Khalsa coach Peter de Roo took over a Tigers side who were second-last in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) in September 2022, he introduced a style of football that combined possession with aggressive pressing during transitions.
In his final match at Bishan Stadium on May 25, his charges did well to showcase his football philosophy, giving the Dutchman the perfect parting gift with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Albirex Niigata — a team Balestier have not beaten since 2015.
Substitute Reycredo Bukit, who scored his first goal for the club and the winner in the 95th minute, said: 'I (dedicate) my performance today to coach Peter de Roo. Thank you for giving me the experience of playing in my debut professional season.
'It's so amazing… A very good start for me, and I keep going.'
Victory against Albirex, who in 2024 transitioned from a team comprising mainly Japanese players to a local outfit, on the final day of the SPL saw Balestier finishing fourth in the league in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1997 and 1998.
De Roo, who was inundated with requests for photos and autographs by fans after the final whistle, said: 'I am proud the guys gave it their all to the end. We wanted to go out with a bang. We worked extremely hard.
'We wanted to repay the supporters for their faith in the last two and a half years. We did not do that with the best football, but as always, the boys played their socks off and worked so hard.'
Members of Balestier Khalsa FC (in red) and Albirex Niigata FC (in white) compete for the ball during the final round of 2024-25 SPL season at Bishan Stadium on May 25.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
The 55-year-old's swansong was all the more satisfying as he had finally broken the hoodoo against Albirex after eight losses in as many league meetings, including his first game in charge, a 3-5 home defeat.
The Tigers began the game with just a third of the possession, but patiently waited for opportunities on the transition. They opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Jared Gallagher whipped in a deep cross that was met by Anton Fase, who rose highest at the back post to power a header into the top corner.
Just before the interval, Balestier top scorer Kodai Tanaka combined with former Albirex teammate Masahiro Sugita for their second goal. Tanaka produced a neat flick into Sugita's path and the winger shimmied past a flailing Hassan Sunny before sweeping the ball home. After a brief VAR check, the players wheeled away in celebration, heading straight to the bench to share the moment with their departing coach.
The White Swans threatened to spoil the party as they pulled one back soon after the restart. A cross floated in by Arshad Shamim was nodded in by defender Koki Kawachi for his first goal of the season.
An unmarked run by Kawachi during a corner resulted in another bullet header past Balestier keeper Hafiz Ahmad to level the game.
Throwing bodies forward in search of a winner, the hosts' persistence paid off when Reycredo spotted Hassan off his line and sent a shot into the back of the net.
While disappointed with the stoppage-time loss, Albirex coach Keiji Shigetomi said: 'We wanted to finish the season with a win. We really wanted to give our fans a result they could celebrate… But I believe my boys didn't give up, and they showed our fighting spirit.'
Over at the Jurong East Stadium, Tanjong Pagar United stunned third-placed Geylang International as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Earlier on May 24, Brunei DPMM brought their SPL chapter to a close with a sixth straight win, edging Hougang United 3-2 in a hard-fought encounter, courtesy of a brace from top scorer Davis Ikaunieks (12 goals). They are set to rejoin the Malaysia Super League in the 2025/26 season.
Tampines Rovers and Lion City Sailors eked out a 0-0 stalemate on the same day after the latter rotated their outfield players for the match, retaining only substitute goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad from the first leg of the Singapore Cup semi-final against DPMM as they gear up for the second leg on May 27.
Analysis
Balestier showcased some attractive passages of counter-attacking play, but were nearly undone by some pedestrian defending. A late offensive onslaught paid dividends as they notched the late win for their departing coach.
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