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SINGAPORE: Albirex Niigata were crowned Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions on Saturday (December 5), making it the sixth consecutive season a foreign team has won the league.
Albirex clinched the title following their 1-0 win over Hougang United, with Ryoya Taniguchi scoring the only goal.
Meanwhile, Tampines Rovers, who entered the final round of matches one point behind the Japanese, drew 1-1 against Geylang International. A header from Barry Maguire put the Eagles ahead before Baihakki Khaizan tied for Tampines.
READ: The Singapore Premier League will allow fans in the stadium for the showdown between Tampines Rovers and Geylang International
This means Albirex finished three points ahead of Gavin Lee’s men to top the league table. It is Albirex’s fourth title in five years.
The last home team to win the league was Warriors FC in 2014, and since then, the domestic competition has been won twice by DPMM in 2015 and 2019, as well as Albirex Niigata between 2016 and 2018.
The SPL is in its third season since it was renamed the S League. The season was suspended in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restarted in mid-October.
Saturday’s game between the Stags and Eagles at Our Tampines Hub was the first time spectators had been able to watch an SPL game “live” since the league was halted.
A maximum of 200 fans, 150 at home and 50 away, were allowed into the stadium, subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing and safe distancing protocols.
