Geylang beat Garena Young Lions to move into top four

Garena Young Lions were brought straight down to earth at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday night as they suffered a 4-0 mauling at the hands of Geylang International just a week after achieving their first win of the season.

Shahfiq Ghani and Victor Coto put the Eagles 2-0 up at half-time, before Faritz Hameed and Shawal Anuar rounded off a resounding victory for Noor Ali's men.

They are now in the driving seat to finish fourth ahead of Warriors FC and Hougang United.

Coming off a last-gasp 3-2 defeat to rivals Tampines Rovers in last week's Eastern Derby, Geylang were determined to make amends, and tested Zharfan Rohaizan.

The Young Lions custodian denied Shawal Anuar in a one-on-one opportunity before tipping wide Ricardo Sendra's shot from the edge of the box.

Japanese defender Yuki Ichikawa then connected with Shahfiq's inswinging corner on 12 minutes, but his header came off the left-hand post.

The deadlock was broken on 15 minutes, with Shahfiq gleefully heading home after Zharfan had made a mess of his attempted catch on Coto's cross.

The Eagles were in the ascendancy. Ichikawa's header from Darren Teh's free kick was turned around the post before Ricardo Sendra volleyed over from Faritz's cross.

Noor Ali's side deservedly doubled their advantage in the 38th minute. Gabriel Quak's shot was deflected into the path of the lurking Coto, who lashed home a neat left-footed effort from six yards out.

Geylang carried where they left off after the break, as Quak fired against the base of the post on 47 minutes.

They would make it 3-0 four minutes later. Right-back Faritz expertly took down a long ball before firing home a sizzling volley beyond the fingertips of Zharfan.

Vincent Subramaniam's Young Lions should have pulled one back on 54 minutes. However, Zulaqarnaen's goal-bound volley off Hami Syahin's cross was somehow tipped over by Geylang keeper Syazwan Buhari.

The Eagles would round off the night by scoring a fourth on 70 minutes. Shawal Anuar collected Coto's defence-splitting pass before firing into the bottom left corner.

Young Lions could have found a consolation late on, but Syazwan pulled off a series of magnificent saves to keep his former employers at bay.

Garena Young Lions: Zharfan Rohaizad (GK, C), Rusyaidi Salime, Amirul Adli, Faizal Roslan, Syahrul Sazali (Yeo Hai Ngee 57'), Ammirul Emmran (Shameer Aziq 46'), Armin Maier, Hami Syahin, Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Haiqal Pashia, Taufik Suparno (Ikhsan Fandi 68')

Geylang International: Syazwan Buhari (GK), Faritz Hameed, Yuki Ichikawa, Anders Aplin, Darren Teh, Nor Azli Yusoff (C) (Isa Halim 75'), Ricardo Sendra, Gabriel Quak (Amy Recha 62'), Shahfiq Ghani (Ifwat Ismail 78'), Shawal Anuar, Victor Coto