AFC Cup MD1 - Group E: Tampines Rovers 4-0 Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi

Having gone four games without a win, including a 3-1 defeat by Indian champions Mohun Bagan in the AFC Champions League play-offs, Tampines shook off their slump in emphatic style in the Group E clash at Jalan Besar Stadium as striker Billy Mehmet opened the scoring inside two minutes before Hafiz Sujad added a second on 33 minutes.

Afiq Yunos then made it 3-0 just seven minutes after the restart before an own goal from Sheikh Jamal’s Topu Barman on 54 minutes ended any doubt of the outcome.

“We could be more clinical in front of goal, as goal difference could be decisive in the final crunch,” said Tampines coach V. Sundramoorthy.

“Our engine still needs oiling and Sheikh Jamal caused some problems for us in the first half. Staying compact was the main thing, so we were trying our best not to concede today.”

Tampines only needed 66 seconds to open the floodgates when former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant delivered a low cross from the right for Mehmet to stab home from close range.

Any hopes of a deluge of goals were temporarily put on hold as Sheikh Jamal skipper Wedson Anselme inspired his team with intelligent runs in the final third to unsettle the Tampines defence.

The hosts gradually regained the initiative and doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute. Mehmet turned provider with a cross from the right that was met by a diving header from an unmarked Hafiz inside the six-yard box.

That goal lifted Tampines’ confidence and their sustained pressure after the restart reaped two further goals in the space of three minutes as they snuffed out any hopes of a comeback from the visitors.

Afiq made it 3-0 seven minutes into the second half as he headed home from a corner. And Sheikh Jamal centre-back Barman then put a Pennant cross into his own net two minutes later to complete the rout.

“My defenders were not up to the mark,” said Sheik Jamal coach Shafiqul Islam Manik. “We made lots of mistakes and three of the goals we conceded were silly ones.

“We were short of practice and suffered from a lack of communication, while Tampines demonstrated understanding and communication to their advantage.”

Photo: Lagardere Sports