After last Sunday's devastating defeat to Lion City Sailors, the White Swans returned to winning ways by beating Balestier Khalsa FC 6-2 this evening at Jurong East Stadium.
Bolstered by a vociferous crowd, attacking midfielder Seia Kunori led the attack from the start. Kunori had drawn a blank in his last 4 matches and his last goal was coincidentally against the same opponents tonight in a match which he scored a hat trick.
【#10 Seia Kunori】
Desperate to make up for lost time, Kunori's grounder in the 12th minute found the right corner of the net to open the scoring for Albirex.
On the 21st minute, Kunori brought the ball forward from midfield and released left winger Shuto Komaki who found space at the left. Balestier's goalkeeper parried Komaki's shot into the path of Kunori who gleefully slot the ball home. 2 Nil.
Komaki was having much joy on the left wing when Kunori found him free again on the 30th minute. Komaki's shoulder feint tricked the goalkeeper to move to his left while Komaki quickly lobbed the ball into the net on the right side of the keeper. 3 nil.
【#7 Shuto Komaki】
Balestier got a goal back on the 39th minute from a free kick. Darren Teh's delivery found centre back Madhu Mohan who got to the ball first before a hesitant Hyrulnizam Jumaat. Hyrulnizam was starting his first match this season after regular goalkeeper Hassan Sunny suffered a head injury in the last match.
The White Swans led 3-1 into the break.
Albirex came out from the blocks quickly in the 2nd half. Veteran striker Tadanari Lee's shot in the 51st minute hit an unfortunate Madhu who diverted the ball into goal.
One minute later, Lee and substitute Riku Fukashiro combined in a slick move and the penetrating ball came to the overlapping left back Sho Fuwa who passed the ball into the net in one touch. 5-1 to the White Swans.
【#17 Sho Fuwa】
However, Balestier quickly got a goal back 3 minutes later when Hyrulnizam spilled ex White Swan Ryoya Taniguchi's shot onto another ex Albirex striker Shuhei Hoshino's path. Hoshino had the simplest task of tapping the ball in to bring the score to 5-2.
Unlike the last match, the White Swans defence did not panic after conceding 2 goals. Build up was more patient and the White Swans sought to dominate possession instead of long balls.
The icing on the cake came on the 89th minute when Fukashiro swept the ball into the bottom left corner. 6-2 the final score in a game that brought joy back to the Albirex supporters.
【#9 Riku Fukashiro】
The victory brought the White Swans back to the top of the table with 27 points from 9 wins and 2 defeats. Albirex will host Geylang International 11 days later on 6 Jun (Tuesday) at Jurong East Stadium. Kickoff is 7.45pm.
Match Detail
Bolstered by a vociferous crowd, attacking midfielder Seia Kunori led the attack from the start. Kunori had drawn a blank in his last 4 matches and his last goal was coincidentally against the same opponents tonight in a match which he scored a hat trick.
【#10 Seia Kunori】
Desperate to make up for lost time, Kunori's grounder in the 12th minute found the right corner of the net to open the scoring for Albirex.
On the 21st minute, Kunori brought the ball forward from midfield and released left winger Shuto Komaki who found space at the left. Balestier's goalkeeper parried Komaki's shot into the path of Kunori who gleefully slot the ball home. 2 Nil.
Komaki was having much joy on the left wing when Kunori found him free again on the 30th minute. Komaki's shoulder feint tricked the goalkeeper to move to his left while Komaki quickly lobbed the ball into the net on the right side of the keeper. 3 nil.
【#7 Shuto Komaki】
Balestier got a goal back on the 39th minute from a free kick. Darren Teh's delivery found centre back Madhu Mohan who got to the ball first before a hesitant Hyrulnizam Jumaat. Hyrulnizam was starting his first match this season after regular goalkeeper Hassan Sunny suffered a head injury in the last match.
The White Swans led 3-1 into the break.
Albirex came out from the blocks quickly in the 2nd half. Veteran striker Tadanari Lee's shot in the 51st minute hit an unfortunate Madhu who diverted the ball into goal.
One minute later, Lee and substitute Riku Fukashiro combined in a slick move and the penetrating ball came to the overlapping left back Sho Fuwa who passed the ball into the net in one touch. 5-1 to the White Swans.
【#17 Sho Fuwa】
However, Balestier quickly got a goal back 3 minutes later when Hyrulnizam spilled ex White Swan Ryoya Taniguchi's shot onto another ex Albirex striker Shuhei Hoshino's path. Hoshino had the simplest task of tapping the ball in to bring the score to 5-2.
Unlike the last match, the White Swans defence did not panic after conceding 2 goals. Build up was more patient and the White Swans sought to dominate possession instead of long balls.
The icing on the cake came on the 89th minute when Fukashiro swept the ball into the bottom left corner. 6-2 the final score in a game that brought joy back to the Albirex supporters.
【#9 Riku Fukashiro】
The victory brought the White Swans back to the top of the table with 27 points from 9 wins and 2 defeats. Albirex will host Geylang International 11 days later on 6 Jun (Tuesday) at Jurong East Stadium. Kickoff is 7.45pm.
Match Detail
