Hougang United claimed a precious 1-0 win against Harimau Muda at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malacca on Wednesday night as they climbed above the latter to go seventh in the Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League standings.
A Vuk Sotirovic goal midway through the first half was enough to give the Cheetahs all three points in a game that was marred by violent conduct, with a total of three players seeing red in the final 16 minutes -- making it the fifth match in a row where a player was sent off in this fixture.
The home side dominated early proceedings with Faizat Ghazali's diving header and Syazwan Andik's 20-yard drive, forcing Hougang keeper Ridhuan Barudin into action.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play on 24 minutes, when the Serbian forward thumped home a brilliant volley, off captain Nurhilmi Jasni's searching cross for his fourth league goal of the season.
Ridhuan was then forced into a save again on the half-hour mark, as he inadvertently deflected away Syazwan's close-range shot after S. Kumaahran had caused the initial danger.
Hougang should have doubled their lead in the 38th minute, when Nurhilmi played in Sotirovic again, only for the latter to shoot wide.
The Young Tigers regrouped and could have leveled the game seven minutes after the restart, but centre-back Wan Ahmad Zafran could only head wide from Faizat's corner.
Hougang then wasted another gilt-edged opportunity in the 62nd minute as Diego Gama put the leather wide, with just Ramdhan to beat after Harimau Muda captain Nazirul Naim had conceded possession inside his own half.
Tempers began to fray in the closing stages with both sides seeing red. First up was Hougang's Faizal Amir who received his second yellow for a high challenge on Nazirul before Harimau Muda's Faizat followed suit with a straight red for a poor tackle on Delwinder Singh.
Razip Ismail's side was further reduced to nine with seven minutes to play, as Wan Ahmad got the marching orders for manhandling referee. G. Letchman.
Eventually, it was Hougang who managed to hold out for the three points and claimed only their second win in ten away matches this season.
The Cheetahs will be hoping to build on this momentum when they take on league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jalan Besar Stadium next Friday, while Harimau Muda have a chance to for salvation when they travel to Choa Chua Kang this Sunday to take on Warriors FC.
Harimau Muda: Ramdhan Hamid (GK), Kenny Pallraj, Syawal Nordin, Wan Ahmad Zafran, Nazirul Naim Che Hashim (C), Syazwan Andik (Syahrul Azwari 64'), Adam Nor Azlin, Irfan Zakaria, Shahrul Igwan, Faizat Ghazali, S. Kumaahran (Arif Anwar 73')
Hougang United: Ridhuan Barudin (GK), Faizal Amir, Kunihiro Yamashita, Tengku Mushadad (Delwinder Singh 46'), Lau Meng Meng, Nurhilmi Jasni (C), Carlos Delgado, Atsushi Shimono, Fairoz Hasan (Fareez Farhan 61', Taufiq Ghani 86'), Vuk Sotirovic, Diego Gama