On a hot and humid evening, a capacity crowd packed Jurong East Stadium to the brim to watch 2 of the best teams in the league, Albirex Niigata and Lion City Sailors, strut their stuff in a title contender match.
The White Swans sat on second place in the league table. A win tonight would bring them back to the top of the table, overtaking Tampines Rovers on goal difference albeit with a game in hand.
The Sailors were 2 points behind in third place. A win tonight would bring them to second place, overtaking the White Swans albeit with playing a game more.
Adding to the subplots are the strengthening of personnel in both the playing and coaching areas of the Sailors. Ex Sunderland and World Cup 2023 Australian Centre Back, Bailey Wright; Former Ajax striker, Richairo Zivkovic and; Former Porto and Portugal U20 Captain Rui Pires, joined the Sailors this month. However, Wright was suspended for 2 games due to a straight red card in the last game against DPMM Brunei while Pires is only registered for AFC Champions League and not the Singapore Premier League.
Nonetheless, fans were anxious to watch a clash of the titans and how the new look Sailors would be under a new team management.
The White Swans were the quicker out of the blocks at kickoff and started to dominate the game. At the 13th minute, veteran striker Tadanari Lee made a beautiful cross into the box from the right wing which fellow striker Seia Kunori connected well with a right volley. However, Sailors goalkeeper Zharfan made a stupendous stop to palm the ball into safety.
【#10 Seia Kunori】
In the 21st minute, Kunori returned the favour to Lee when he split the defence with a through pass to Lee. However, Lee could not get the ball past Zharfan in a one on one situation.
Sailors, on the other hand, were looking dangerous on the counter attack. In one such counter attack in the 25th minute, Richairo turned right back Asahi Yokokawa the wrong way and squared the pass to Maxime Lestienne. Lestienne's goal bound shot was cleared off the line twice, firstly by centre back, "Gozi" Kishimoto and the second by left back Sho Fuwa.
However, Gozi's attempt to clear the ball had an unwanted consequence as his knee accidentally banged into goalkeeper Hassan Sunny's face. Hassan continued playing for less than 10 minutes, but was subsequently stretchered off due to the after effects of the concussion. He was replaced by Hyrulnizam Jumaat at the 35th minute.
The first half ended scoreless although both sides had chances to open the scoring.
The White Swans continued to dominate possession in the second half. However, it was the Sailors who drew first blood. Captain Yokokawa was adjudged to handle the ball in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. Richairo stepped up to give the Sailors the lead.
The lead lasted for only 6 minutes. Kunori attracted 3 Sailors defenders to him just outside the penalty box, and released the ball to an unmarked Shodai Yokoyama. Yokoyama shrugged off the challenge of the returning Anumanthan to toe poke the ball past Zharfan's near post. 1-1.
【#14 Shodai Yokoyama】
2 minutes later, the tables were turned. Fuwa made a quick pass to substitute Riku Fukashiro who dribbled the ball to the bye line. Fukashiro cut the ball back to Kunori who attempted a shot at goal. Kunori's shot reached a lurking Lee who backheeled the ball into the net and the Albirex fans went wild.
【#19 Tadanari Lee】
2-1 and the game was not done yet.
Due to VAR checks and stoppages, referee awarded 6 minutes of additional time. Sailors threw the kitchen sink at Albirex and poured bodies forward. At the 92nd minute, substitute striker Abdul Rasaq's shot hit the crossbar to the agony of the Sailors bench and fans.
3 minutes later, Fukashiro finally put the game beyond doubt. In a counter attack, substitute striker Keito Komatsu, who came on for a drained Lee, spotted Fukashiro running down the left flank unmarked. Fukashiro made his stepovers at the edge of the penalty box, and unleashed the shot into the net and unleashed the roar of the vociferous Albirex fans.
【#9 Riku Fukashiro】
3-1. Game over.
The victory was sweet for the players and supporters as they overcame the loss of Hassan Sunny and a goal down during the game. They would hope to carry on this never-say-die attitude for the remaining games.
Albirex would next host Young Lions on 22 Jul (Saturday) at Jurong East Stadium. Kickoff is 6pm.
Match Detail
The White Swans sat on second place in the league table. A win tonight would bring them back to the top of the table, overtaking Tampines Rovers on goal difference albeit with a game in hand.
The Sailors were 2 points behind in third place. A win tonight would bring them to second place, overtaking the White Swans albeit with playing a game more.
Adding to the subplots are the strengthening of personnel in both the playing and coaching areas of the Sailors. Ex Sunderland and World Cup 2023 Australian Centre Back, Bailey Wright; Former Ajax striker, Richairo Zivkovic and; Former Porto and Portugal U20 Captain Rui Pires, joined the Sailors this month. However, Wright was suspended for 2 games due to a straight red card in the last game against DPMM Brunei while Pires is only registered for AFC Champions League and not the Singapore Premier League.
Nonetheless, fans were anxious to watch a clash of the titans and how the new look Sailors would be under a new team management.
The White Swans were the quicker out of the blocks at kickoff and started to dominate the game. At the 13th minute, veteran striker Tadanari Lee made a beautiful cross into the box from the right wing which fellow striker Seia Kunori connected well with a right volley. However, Sailors goalkeeper Zharfan made a stupendous stop to palm the ball into safety.
【#10 Seia Kunori】
In the 21st minute, Kunori returned the favour to Lee when he split the defence with a through pass to Lee. However, Lee could not get the ball past Zharfan in a one on one situation.
Sailors, on the other hand, were looking dangerous on the counter attack. In one such counter attack in the 25th minute, Richairo turned right back Asahi Yokokawa the wrong way and squared the pass to Maxime Lestienne. Lestienne's goal bound shot was cleared off the line twice, firstly by centre back, "Gozi" Kishimoto and the second by left back Sho Fuwa.
However, Gozi's attempt to clear the ball had an unwanted consequence as his knee accidentally banged into goalkeeper Hassan Sunny's face. Hassan continued playing for less than 10 minutes, but was subsequently stretchered off due to the after effects of the concussion. He was replaced by Hyrulnizam Jumaat at the 35th minute.
The first half ended scoreless although both sides had chances to open the scoring.
The White Swans continued to dominate possession in the second half. However, it was the Sailors who drew first blood. Captain Yokokawa was adjudged to handle the ball in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. Richairo stepped up to give the Sailors the lead.
The lead lasted for only 6 minutes. Kunori attracted 3 Sailors defenders to him just outside the penalty box, and released the ball to an unmarked Shodai Yokoyama. Yokoyama shrugged off the challenge of the returning Anumanthan to toe poke the ball past Zharfan's near post. 1-1.
【#14 Shodai Yokoyama】
2 minutes later, the tables were turned. Fuwa made a quick pass to substitute Riku Fukashiro who dribbled the ball to the bye line. Fukashiro cut the ball back to Kunori who attempted a shot at goal. Kunori's shot reached a lurking Lee who backheeled the ball into the net and the Albirex fans went wild.
【#19 Tadanari Lee】
2-1 and the game was not done yet.
Due to VAR checks and stoppages, referee awarded 6 minutes of additional time. Sailors threw the kitchen sink at Albirex and poured bodies forward. At the 92nd minute, substitute striker Abdul Rasaq's shot hit the crossbar to the agony of the Sailors bench and fans.
3 minutes later, Fukashiro finally put the game beyond doubt. In a counter attack, substitute striker Keito Komatsu, who came on for a drained Lee, spotted Fukashiro running down the left flank unmarked. Fukashiro made his stepovers at the edge of the penalty box, and unleashed the shot into the net and unleashed the roar of the vociferous Albirex fans.
【#9 Riku Fukashiro】
3-1. Game over.
The victory was sweet for the players and supporters as they overcame the loss of Hassan Sunny and a goal down during the game. They would hope to carry on this never-say-die attitude for the remaining games.
Albirex would next host Young Lions on 22 Jul (Saturday) at Jurong East Stadium. Kickoff is 6pm.
Match Detail
