【Match Report】Tampines Edge 8-Goal Thriller in Dead Rubber
With the title wrapped up and Tampines securing third position, any result in tonight's match has not consequence in the table standings. The only thing that mattered was the scoring chart duel between Albirex's Kodai Tanaka and Tampines' Boris Kopitovic who shared the top spot at 31 goals each.
However, it was Ilhan who drew first blood in 32 seconds after kickoff as he pounced on a back header by Tanaka and broke free down the left wing. On a 1v1 situation against the Tampines goalkeeper, Ilhan tricked the goalkeeper into diving first and calmly put the ball into the opposite side of the net. 0-1, Albirex drew first blood.
However, Tampines hit back in the 10th minute when the White Swans failed to clear a corner and allowed Kopitovic to swivel and score an overhead kick. Tampines further took the lead just before half time when ex-White Swan, Ong Yu En made a defence splitting pass to Taufik Suparno who made no mistake when he was 1v1 with Koga.
Tanaka equalised after half time at the 54th minute when he swept home an Ilhan's back heel. His efforts were cancelled out quickly as Tampines scored 2 goals in the 66th and 68th minute in quick succession.
Kopitovic's shot was parried by Koga and Captain Yasir Hanapi reacted quickest to head in the ball. 2 minutes later, Kopitovic showed pure strength when he brushed off the challenge of Hariya Keito and unleashed a powerful shot past Koga.
Tanaka was now one goal behind Kopitovic in the golden boot race but he kept trying. In the 85th minute, he pulled a goal back when he headed in an Idetsu's corner. All these came to nought for the team though as 3 minutes later, another ex-White Swan, Kyoga Nakamura swerving shot from outside the box killed off any hopes of an Albirex comeback.
The final score is 5-3 to Tampines in this 8-goal thriller.
The final game for the White Swans will be at Our Tampines Hub again next Friday, 21 Oct, against Geylang International. Albirex will lift the Singapore Premier League trophy again for the 5th time in a presentation ceremony after the game.
[Click Here for Match Details]
However, it was Ilhan who drew first blood in 32 seconds after kickoff as he pounced on a back header by Tanaka and broke free down the left wing. On a 1v1 situation against the Tampines goalkeeper, Ilhan tricked the goalkeeper into diving first and calmly put the ball into the opposite side of the net. 0-1, Albirex drew first blood.
However, Tampines hit back in the 10th minute when the White Swans failed to clear a corner and allowed Kopitovic to swivel and score an overhead kick. Tampines further took the lead just before half time when ex-White Swan, Ong Yu En made a defence splitting pass to Taufik Suparno who made no mistake when he was 1v1 with Koga.
Tanaka equalised after half time at the 54th minute when he swept home an Ilhan's back heel. His efforts were cancelled out quickly as Tampines scored 2 goals in the 66th and 68th minute in quick succession.
Kopitovic's shot was parried by Koga and Captain Yasir Hanapi reacted quickest to head in the ball. 2 minutes later, Kopitovic showed pure strength when he brushed off the challenge of Hariya Keito and unleashed a powerful shot past Koga.
Tanaka was now one goal behind Kopitovic in the golden boot race but he kept trying. In the 85th minute, he pulled a goal back when he headed in an Idetsu's corner. All these came to nought for the team though as 3 minutes later, another ex-White Swan, Kyoga Nakamura swerving shot from outside the box killed off any hopes of an Albirex comeback.
The final score is 5-3 to Tampines in this 8-goal thriller.
The final game for the White Swans will be at Our Tampines Hub again next Friday, 21 Oct, against Geylang International. Albirex will lift the Singapore Premier League trophy again for the 5th time in a presentation ceremony after the game.
[Click Here for Match Details]
