Geylang International's hopes of a top-three finish in the S.League were given a real boost on Thursday night as they left it late to beat Balestier Khalsa 2-1 at Bedok Stadium.
Although it was the Tigers who took a 41st-minute lead courtesy of a Niko Tokic penalty, Geylang equalised just before the break when Mark Hartmann's free kick from out wide crept all the way in.
Then, in the final minute, Singapore international Sahil Suhaimi popped up with a close-range finish to win it for the hosts, with Balestier losing Zulkiffli Hassim to a late red card.
The result was enough to send Geylang two places up to fourth on the table, keeping alive their ambitions of a top-three finish as they are now just one point behind Brunei DPMM FC. But it certainly was not the most straightforward of victories against a determined Balestier side, who arguably enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes.
Tokic had a shot charged down by Daniel Bennett as early as the fourth minute before Jamil Ali, latching onto Miroslav Kristic's through-pass, sent a clever lob over Syazwan Buhari, only to see it come off the bar.
Nonetheless, four minutes before half-time, their persistence was rewarded when Kristic was brought down by Nor Azli inside the area. It paved the way for Tokic to hand them the advantage by sending Syazwan the wrong way from the penalty spot.
It was certainly a deserved lead. But just as it looked like they would be heading into the break in front, Hartmann levelled the scores in first-half injury time. His 30-yard free kick from the left wing eluded a sea of players and went in off the post.
The end-to-end nature of the contest continued in the second half. Sahil came close when he flicked Hartmann's cross just wide, while Tokic's powerful drive from a tight angle forced Syazwan into a smart save at the near post.
Shahfiq Ghani then came excruciatingly close to winning it for the Eagles when his blistering free kick found the side-netting with just two minutes remaining. Isa Halim then had to make a brave block to deny Tokic from point-blank range.
Then, with their final meaningful attack, the Eagles' two substitutes combined to hand them the three points. Stanely Ng found space down the right and crossed for Sahil to sweep home, despite Daniel Ong managing to get a hand to it.
"We certainly left it very late but the effort from the boys was there," said Geylang coach Hasrin Jailani. "It's a very important win for us, especially now that we'll be more or less having three weeks without a game.
"I think we deserved the three points and it's good because we're still challenging for a top-three spot.
"Definitely, the goal before half-time was very crucial and it was the turning point because it ensured we came out for the second half level with them."
Meanwhile, Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic did his best to hide his disappointment as he praised his charged for a stirring if ultimately unrewarded performance.
"We played well and I think we were the better team, especially in the first half when we created so many chances and should have finished it off," said the German-born Croatian. "This is football, when you don't take your chances all it takes is one chance to get punished but I'm very happy with the performance if not the result."
Geylang International: Syazwan Buhari, Faritz Hameed, Daniel Bennett, Yuki Ichikawa, Anders Aplin, Isa Halim, Nor Azli Yusoff (Sahil Suhaimi 46'), Carlos Delgado, Shawal Anuar, Gabriel Quak (Stanely Ng 58'), Mark Hartmann (Shahfiq Ghani 77')
Balestier Khalsa: Daniel Ong, Fadli Kamis, Sheikh Abdul Hadi, Emir Lotinac, Ahmad Syahir, Syafiq Zainal (Fadhil Noh 60'), Hazzuwan Halim, Ho Wai Loon (Shah Hirul 72'), Jamil Ali (Zulkiffli Hassim 75'), Niko Tokic, Miroslav Kristic