SINGAPORE — A Faritz Hameed-inspired Geylang International got their first win of the S.League season as they cruised to a 2-0 victory against the Garena Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (Feb 25).

Having drawn their first two matches against title favourites Tampines Rovers (3-3) and reigning champions Brunei DPMM (1-1), the onus was on Geylang to go all out against a Young Lions side still smarting from a 5-0 defeat by Albirex Niigata in the previous match.

And the Eagles delivered with Faritz, the former LionsXII wing-back, at the heart of every action.

The Young Lions defended poorly on the night and lacked the cutting edge up front - unsurprising traits as they are ultimately an Under-21 side playing against seasoned campaigners.

Faritz, who was flying on the right wing, got the ball rolling in the 15th minute, when his low cross found an unmarked striker Branko Cubrilo who deftly tapped home to give Geylang the lead.

With the 26-year-old Faritz wrecking havoc with his overlapping runs, Geylang should have had a penalty in the 37th minute when 17-year-old defender Rusyaidi Salime brought down Stanely Ng in the penalty area with a reckless challenge, only for referee Nathan Chan to wave play on.

Faritz then had two great chances to make it 2-0 early in the second half, first shooting just wide of goal and then blasting high and wide.

He was finally rewarded for his efforts in the 66th minute when he blasted the ball into the top corner from Gabriel Quak’s well-timed cross from the left wing and secured a well deserved win for Geylang in front of 2,416 fans.

Geylang coach Hasrin Jailani is happy with his team’s first league win of the season.

“We missed chances but that’s football. Three points are good for us and the most important thing for the team is that this result gives us confidence going forward,” he said.

“Faritz had a few chances and he played really well even when he was not deployed in his preferred position. It now gives me an additional but happy selection headache on that right wing.”