【Match Report】Hard Fought Win on a Rain-Soaked Evening - 2022 SPL MD8
After a 4-week's break, the White Swans returned to action tonight against Tanjong Pagar, which they have not beaten in the last 3 encounters. The White Swans have also drawn their last 4 games, so the pressure was on to get the 3 points.
Rain had started more than an hour before kickoff at 5.30pm. On the slippery surface, Albirex had more possession but Tanjong Pagar held firm and did not offer any openings.
Against the run of play at the 21st minute , ex-Albirex winger, Reo Nishiguchi received a pass from Blake Riccuito at the middle of the park and set off an amazing run. He drove through the heart of the Albirex defence, escaped the attention of 4 defenders and slipped the ball past the reach of the White Swans custodian, Takahiro Koga.
The fans must have felt a sense of deja-vu as the Jaguars seemed to be the boogey team of the White Swans in recent matches. However, the Albirex boys did not panic.
10 minutes later, left winger, Daichi Omori, sent in a whipping cross to an onrushing Kodai Tanaka who headed the ball past Zharfan, Tanjong Pagar's GK. 1-1, a well deserved equaliser for Albirex who finally made their possession count.
The White Swans continued to press the Jaguars defence and earned a free kick at the edge of the penalty box in the additional time of the first half.
Up stepped Masaya Idetsu, who had missed the last 7 matches due to a thigh injury. He delivered a curling free kick beyond Zharfan's stretching arms. The White Swans have turned around the match and led 1-2 going into the break.
Albirex continued to dominate the 2nd half but were wary of the Jaguar's long ball tactics. The rain got heavier but it did not extinguish the fighting spirits of the White Swans as they snuffed out the threats from Tanjong Pagar in all areas.
The final whistle came as music to the ears of the Albirex supporters as they savoured a long-awaited victory. The win brought the White Swans to 2nd spot in the league table with 13 points.
Albirex will visit Toa Payoh Stadium next Friday, 13 May. The match against Balestier Khalsa will kick off at 7.45pm.
[Click Here for Match Details]
Rain had started more than an hour before kickoff at 5.30pm. On the slippery surface, Albirex had more possession but Tanjong Pagar held firm and did not offer any openings.
Against the run of play at the 21st minute , ex-Albirex winger, Reo Nishiguchi received a pass from Blake Riccuito at the middle of the park and set off an amazing run. He drove through the heart of the Albirex defence, escaped the attention of 4 defenders and slipped the ball past the reach of the White Swans custodian, Takahiro Koga.
The fans must have felt a sense of deja-vu as the Jaguars seemed to be the boogey team of the White Swans in recent matches. However, the Albirex boys did not panic.
10 minutes later, left winger, Daichi Omori, sent in a whipping cross to an onrushing Kodai Tanaka who headed the ball past Zharfan, Tanjong Pagar's GK. 1-1, a well deserved equaliser for Albirex who finally made their possession count.
The White Swans continued to press the Jaguars defence and earned a free kick at the edge of the penalty box in the additional time of the first half.
Up stepped Masaya Idetsu, who had missed the last 7 matches due to a thigh injury. He delivered a curling free kick beyond Zharfan's stretching arms. The White Swans have turned around the match and led 1-2 going into the break.
Albirex continued to dominate the 2nd half but were wary of the Jaguar's long ball tactics. The rain got heavier but it did not extinguish the fighting spirits of the White Swans as they snuffed out the threats from Tanjong Pagar in all areas.
The final whistle came as music to the ears of the Albirex supporters as they savoured a long-awaited victory. The win brought the White Swans to 2nd spot in the league table with 13 points.
Albirex will visit Toa Payoh Stadium next Friday, 13 May. The match against Balestier Khalsa will kick off at 7.45pm.
[Click Here for Match Details]
