SINGAPORE — A bumper crowd of of 3,551 at the Bishan Stadium watched the S.League’s most expensive signing Jermaine Pennant score his first goal for Tampines Rovers as the Stags were held to a 1-1 draw by Home United on Thursday evening (March 3).

The former Arsenal and Liverpool winger curled a stunning free kick from 25m out in the 40th minute to cancel out Ken Ilso’s opener for Home.

Before the match, there were snaking queues of fans buying tickets for the game at Bishan Stadium, stretching as far as the road adjacent to the stadium. The turnout was the most recorded in S.League match this season.

On the pitch, the teams did not disappoint.

Home had appeared the busier side as Danish forward Ilso first fired straight at Stags goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud from a corner. Ilso then show off his skills on the left touchline, cleverly taking on two Tampines defenders before firing past Izwan to give his side the lead in the 35th minute.

The Protectors’ lead did not last long as Tampines got back into the game five minutes later.

Stags wingback Ismadi Mukhtar was fouled by Home’s defender Shahrin Saberin, and Pennant picked the ball up without hesitation to send the crowd into raptures with his set-piece special.

With chances few and far between in the second half, Protectors head coach Philippe Aw threw on teenage striker Irfan Fandi in the 74th minute, and the eldest son of Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad almost scored the winner from Ilso’s corner five minutes later.

“I thought we could have the three points when Irfan headed in but we are disappointed not to win,” said Home coach Philippe Aw. “We proved a lot of people wrong who said we would get beaten today.”

Tampines coach V Sundramoorthy rued his team’s missed chances in the first half, saying: “It’s a pity we missed them because the the second half was pretty even. I think we have individual players who could have won the game for us. But I suppose a point is better than no points.”

In the night’s other match at the Bedok Stadium, Geylang International were held to a 0-0 draw by Balestier Khalsa. Thursday’s results mean Tampines stay in third place on five points and Geylang remain in second on six points. Balestier and Home remain in the bottom three.

Editor's note: It has come to our attention that the S.League's website now states that Pennant has scored two goals in the season so far. We are awaiting official clarification from the S.League on whether a goal initially credited to Mustafic Fahrudin, during a match between Tampines Rovers and Hougang United, has now been credited to Pennant.