Before the kickoff this evening, striking duo Kodai Tanaka and Ilhan Fandi received their Player of the Month and Young Player of the Month Awards for July respectively. In addition, Ilhan also picked up the Goal of the Month Award.
This dynamic duo continued their good form in tonight's match against Tampines Rovers at Jurong East Stadium by scoring a brace each in a 4-2 victory.
Tanaka struck early in the 3rd minute when Tampines Rovers failed to clear a corner. However, his rival for the golden boot Boris Kopitovic equalised 7 minutes later when he turned centre back Jun Kobayashi and unleashed an unstoppable shot to the left of GK Koga's outstretched hands. Kopitovic had 23 goals and Tanaka had 22 goals coming into this game.
With the absence of player Kan Kobayashi due to covid-19, ex Albirex playmaker Kyoga Nakamura ran the midfield. In the 22nd minute, with no one stopping his midfield run into the edge of the box, Nakamura decided to take a shot and it went into the top right corner. 1-2, Tampines Rovers took the lead.
Stand-in head coach Keiji Shigetomi immediately made a tactical switch after the goal, moving Lee to the right wing and Sugita to the middle of the field. Sugita offered more speed and dynamism to counter Nakamura; while Lee had more precision with his crosses into the box. Head Coach Yoshinaga was absent due to Covid-19 too.
The move paid dividends quickly as 7 minutes later, Lee crossed deep into the box and Tanaka leapt above his marker to level the score again. With this goal, Tanaka moved level with Kopitovic at 24 goals.
Just before half time, Tampines failed to clear a corner properly again. Left back Omori swung in a loose ball and Ilhan attacked the ball aggressively with a bullet header into the right corner of the goal. The White Swans have turned this game around and regained the lead at 3-2 going into half time.
After the break, both teams did not let down on their efforts and were fighting hard to get another goal. At the 55th minute, it was Ilhan Fandi who found the net. Receiving a pass from Sugita, Ilhan moved the ball to the edge of the box, took a look and decided to thump the ball into the right side of the goal. 4-2, the White Swans stretched its lead. This is also Ilhan's 12 goals for the White Swans in 11 games, and he is the outright top local scorer.
There were no goals after this as Albirex defended stoutly against Tampines push for a goal. With this victory, Albirex remains second at 45 points, level with leaders Lion City Sailors. Sailors have a game in hand and a better goal difference.
The duo act of Tanaka and Ilhan with 2 goals each tonight augurs well for the White Swans for the 4th round of games, and spells double trouble for opposing teams.
The 4th round will begin from next Saturday, 27 Aug, against Tanjong Pagar at Jurong East Stadium. Kickoff is 5.30pm.
This dynamic duo continued their good form in tonight's match against Tampines Rovers at Jurong East Stadium by scoring a brace each in a 4-2 victory.
Tanaka struck early in the 3rd minute when Tampines Rovers failed to clear a corner. However, his rival for the golden boot Boris Kopitovic equalised 7 minutes later when he turned centre back Jun Kobayashi and unleashed an unstoppable shot to the left of GK Koga's outstretched hands. Kopitovic had 23 goals and Tanaka had 22 goals coming into this game.
With the absence of player Kan Kobayashi due to covid-19, ex Albirex playmaker Kyoga Nakamura ran the midfield. In the 22nd minute, with no one stopping his midfield run into the edge of the box, Nakamura decided to take a shot and it went into the top right corner. 1-2, Tampines Rovers took the lead.
Stand-in head coach Keiji Shigetomi immediately made a tactical switch after the goal, moving Lee to the right wing and Sugita to the middle of the field. Sugita offered more speed and dynamism to counter Nakamura; while Lee had more precision with his crosses into the box. Head Coach Yoshinaga was absent due to Covid-19 too.
The move paid dividends quickly as 7 minutes later, Lee crossed deep into the box and Tanaka leapt above his marker to level the score again. With this goal, Tanaka moved level with Kopitovic at 24 goals.
Just before half time, Tampines failed to clear a corner properly again. Left back Omori swung in a loose ball and Ilhan attacked the ball aggressively with a bullet header into the right corner of the goal. The White Swans have turned this game around and regained the lead at 3-2 going into half time.
After the break, both teams did not let down on their efforts and were fighting hard to get another goal. At the 55th minute, it was Ilhan Fandi who found the net. Receiving a pass from Sugita, Ilhan moved the ball to the edge of the box, took a look and decided to thump the ball into the right side of the goal. 4-2, the White Swans stretched its lead. This is also Ilhan's 12 goals for the White Swans in 11 games, and he is the outright top local scorer.
There were no goals after this as Albirex defended stoutly against Tampines push for a goal. With this victory, Albirex remains second at 45 points, level with leaders Lion City Sailors. Sailors have a game in hand and a better goal difference.
The duo act of Tanaka and Ilhan with 2 goals each tonight augurs well for the White Swans for the 4th round of games, and spells double trouble for opposing teams.
The 4th round will begin from next Saturday, 27 Aug, against Tanjong Pagar at Jurong East Stadium. Kickoff is 5.30pm.
