The 2009 S.League Championship season kicked off last week with Tampines Rovers playing out a 0-0 draw with Home United at Tampines Stadium.

A Noh Alam Shah hand ball gave Home United a penalty which Peres de Oliveira scored from on the first attempt. However, de Oliverira’s teammate Kengne Ludovick was adjudged to have encroached into the penalty box, and his second attempt hit the crossbar.

Geylang United entertained Albirex Niigata of Japan at home in Bedok Stadium and the Japanese drew first blood through Kenji Adachihara. However, three goals from Ashrin (2) and Noor Ali gave the Eagles a 3-1 win and an early lead at the top of the S.League table.

The Young Lions visited the Super Reds at Yishun Stadium who finished second last year. A hardworking effort by the team aged 23 and under, half of whom were playing in the S.League for the first time, gave the Young Lions a deserved 0-0 draw.

Gombak United and Sengkang Punggol played the first televised game at Jalan Besar Stadium for the season. An Ojimi Gabriel Obatola goal was the only goal of the game and gave Gombak its first three points. A debut appearance by national striker Indra Sahdan Daud did little for Sengkang Punggol.

Defending champions Singapore Armed Forces FC finished the first week of S.League with an easy 3-0 win over Balestier Khalsa, last year’s wooden spoonists in the 12-team league. Two goals by national striker Aleksandar Duric in the first half plus another by Masahiro Fukasawa in the second saw off the weak Balestier challenge at Toa Payoh Stadium.

S.League fixtures available for download: S.League Fixtures

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