【Match Report】Ilhan Slays Tigers With First Career Hattrick
Albirex striker Ilhan Fandi scored his first career hattrick as the White Swans beat Balestier Khalsa 4-1 this evening at Jurong East Stadium.
Ilhan's first goal was a contender for the Goal of the Season as his overhead kick from Kan Kobayashi's cross went sweetly into the bottom right corner of the net in the 10th minute. It was a goal worth watching again and again as the execution of the kick was simply poetry in motion.
2 minutes later, a Masaya Idetsu freekick from the left wing found striker Kodai Tanaka. Tanaka's headed the ball backwards into the net to give the White Swans a 2 nil lead in the 13th minute.
In the 22nd minute, shocking defending by Balestier Khalsa allowed Ilhan to ghost towards the right far post to head the ball into the net. Albirex led 3 nil.
Balester grabbed a goal back in the 41st minute through ex White Swan striker Shuhei Hoshino. A corner clearance fell to Hoshino at the edge of the box, and Hoshino's strike evaded 2 Albirex defenders into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Albirex lead 3-1 at half time.
Ilhan got his hat trick at the 63rd minute as he stole ahead of the Balestier's goalkeeper to head the ball into the net.
There were no more goals although the White Swans did have several good chances to extend the lead with substitute Zamani missing 2 good chances.
With the win, Albirex narrowed the gap to 5 points with leaders Lion City Sailors who drew Geylang International 1-1 at Our Tampines Hub.
The White Swans will travel to Jalan Besar Stadium next Saturday, 23 July to play against the Young Lions at 5.30pm.
Ilhan's first goal was a contender for the Goal of the Season as his overhead kick from Kan Kobayashi's cross went sweetly into the bottom right corner of the net in the 10th minute. It was a goal worth watching again and again as the execution of the kick was simply poetry in motion.
2 minutes later, a Masaya Idetsu freekick from the left wing found striker Kodai Tanaka. Tanaka's headed the ball backwards into the net to give the White Swans a 2 nil lead in the 13th minute.
In the 22nd minute, shocking defending by Balestier Khalsa allowed Ilhan to ghost towards the right far post to head the ball into the net. Albirex led 3 nil.
Balester grabbed a goal back in the 41st minute through ex White Swan striker Shuhei Hoshino. A corner clearance fell to Hoshino at the edge of the box, and Hoshino's strike evaded 2 Albirex defenders into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Albirex lead 3-1 at half time.
Ilhan got his hat trick at the 63rd minute as he stole ahead of the Balestier's goalkeeper to head the ball into the net.
There were no more goals although the White Swans did have several good chances to extend the lead with substitute Zamani missing 2 good chances.
With the win, Albirex narrowed the gap to 5 points with leaders Lion City Sailors who drew Geylang International 1-1 at Our Tampines Hub.
The White Swans will travel to Jalan Besar Stadium next Saturday, 23 July to play against the Young Lions at 5.30pm.
Detail of the match is here
