Keito "Fire" Komatsu scored a hattrick within 16 minutes to fire the White Swans to a 5 nil win over an ill-disciplined Young Lions at Jurong East Stadium this evening.
【#11 Keito Komatsu】
With a title defining match coming up against Tampines Rovers next Friday, Head Coach Yoshinaga made a slew of changes in the starting line up. Star striker, Tadanari Lee, and winger Shuto Komaki was rested together with 3 other players who were on 3 yellow cards, Captain Asahi Yokokawa, Centre Back Koki Kawachi and Attacking Midfielder Seia Kunori. Goalkeeper Hassan Sunny has fully recovered from his head injury last Sunday, but the team decided not to risk him for this match.
In their places, come Hyrulnizam Jumaat, making his fourth appearance this season; winger Riku Fukashiro, striker Komatsu, centre back Keito Hariya, right back Ryo Takahashi also returned to the first eleven. Midfielder Masaya Watanabe made his first start of the season.
The White Swans went on the offensive from kick-off. Takahashi made a cross into the box in the 6th minute which Komatsu connected expertly with a header that bounced off the underside of the crossbar into the net.
In the 15th minute, Watanabe stole the ball from ex-Albirex Centre Back Jun Kobayashi and squared the ball to Komatsu for an easy tap-in. 2 nil.
The hattrick was completed in the 23rd minute. A VAR review showed that defensive midfielder, Kaisei Ogawa, was kicked in the box. Komatsu gleefully accepted the penalty kick to make it 3 nil and 3 for him in the game.
【#11 Keito Komatsu】
The game was then marred by 2 moments of ill discipline by the Young Lions players.
Right back, Aqil Yazid, who was already on a yellow card earlier for pulling down Fukashiro, foolishly kicked another ball into play when play had already restarted from a throw-in in the 32nd minute. Upon VAR review, the referee gave a second yellow card to Aqil.
In the 40th minute, right winger Haziq Kamarudin, made a wild tackle on White Swan's left back, Sho Fuwa, with Haziq's knee connecting with Fuwa's head. Referee immediately pulled out the red card to send Haziq to the stands. Fuwa was subsequently sent to hospital for the head injury. Komaki came on to replace the injured Fuwa.
There was no more notable action in the first half as it ended 3 nil.
The White Swans naturally dominated possession in the second half over 9-men Young Lions who were content to pack all 9 men in their half to keep the score respectable.
The breakthrough finally came in the 67th minute when Fukashiro and Komaki dazzled Young Lions in the left wing. Substitute Hilman Norhisam was the quickest to react to Komaki's fierce drive across the box to make it 4 nil. The whole stadium cheered for Hilman as this was his first goal for the White Swans.
【#53 Hilman Norhisam】
Centre back and Captain for this match, Shunsaku "Godzilla" Kishimoto, also scored his first goal for the Club as he nodded in a corner in the 82nd minute for Albirex's 5th goal and final icing on the cake.
【Left: #5 Shunsaku Kishimoto Right: #3 Keito Hariya】
The White Swans extended its lead at the top of the table to 3 points and has a game in hand over 2nd placed Tampines. Tampines hosted Geylang in an Eastern Derby tonight at Our Tampines Hub. However, Tampines lost the match 2-3 in additional time.
Albirex will host Tampines this coming Friday, 28 Jul, at Jurong East Stadium. This top of the table clash will certainly attract a good crowd to watch a title-defining match. Kickoff is 7.45pm
Match Detail
【#11 Keito Komatsu】
With a title defining match coming up against Tampines Rovers next Friday, Head Coach Yoshinaga made a slew of changes in the starting line up. Star striker, Tadanari Lee, and winger Shuto Komaki was rested together with 3 other players who were on 3 yellow cards, Captain Asahi Yokokawa, Centre Back Koki Kawachi and Attacking Midfielder Seia Kunori. Goalkeeper Hassan Sunny has fully recovered from his head injury last Sunday, but the team decided not to risk him for this match.
In their places, come Hyrulnizam Jumaat, making his fourth appearance this season; winger Riku Fukashiro, striker Komatsu, centre back Keito Hariya, right back Ryo Takahashi also returned to the first eleven. Midfielder Masaya Watanabe made his first start of the season.
The White Swans went on the offensive from kick-off. Takahashi made a cross into the box in the 6th minute which Komatsu connected expertly with a header that bounced off the underside of the crossbar into the net.
In the 15th minute, Watanabe stole the ball from ex-Albirex Centre Back Jun Kobayashi and squared the ball to Komatsu for an easy tap-in. 2 nil.
The hattrick was completed in the 23rd minute. A VAR review showed that defensive midfielder, Kaisei Ogawa, was kicked in the box. Komatsu gleefully accepted the penalty kick to make it 3 nil and 3 for him in the game.
【#11 Keito Komatsu】
The game was then marred by 2 moments of ill discipline by the Young Lions players.
Right back, Aqil Yazid, who was already on a yellow card earlier for pulling down Fukashiro, foolishly kicked another ball into play when play had already restarted from a throw-in in the 32nd minute. Upon VAR review, the referee gave a second yellow card to Aqil.
In the 40th minute, right winger Haziq Kamarudin, made a wild tackle on White Swan's left back, Sho Fuwa, with Haziq's knee connecting with Fuwa's head. Referee immediately pulled out the red card to send Haziq to the stands. Fuwa was subsequently sent to hospital for the head injury. Komaki came on to replace the injured Fuwa.
There was no more notable action in the first half as it ended 3 nil.
The White Swans naturally dominated possession in the second half over 9-men Young Lions who were content to pack all 9 men in their half to keep the score respectable.
The breakthrough finally came in the 67th minute when Fukashiro and Komaki dazzled Young Lions in the left wing. Substitute Hilman Norhisam was the quickest to react to Komaki's fierce drive across the box to make it 4 nil. The whole stadium cheered for Hilman as this was his first goal for the White Swans.
【#53 Hilman Norhisam】
Centre back and Captain for this match, Shunsaku "Godzilla" Kishimoto, also scored his first goal for the Club as he nodded in a corner in the 82nd minute for Albirex's 5th goal and final icing on the cake.
【Left: #5 Shunsaku Kishimoto Right: #3 Keito Hariya】
The White Swans extended its lead at the top of the table to 3 points and has a game in hand over 2nd placed Tampines. Tampines hosted Geylang in an Eastern Derby tonight at Our Tampines Hub. However, Tampines lost the match 2-3 in additional time.
Albirex will host Tampines this coming Friday, 28 Jul, at Jurong East Stadium. This top of the table clash will certainly attract a good crowd to watch a title-defining match. Kickoff is 7.45pm
Match Detail
