Igami's Goal Propels White Swans Past Young Lions
The match between Young Lions and Albirex Niigata Football Club (Singapore) on a wet Saturday night, concluded with a narrow victory for the White Swans, who secured a 1-0 win at Jalan Besar Stadium. The only goal of the match came from Arya Igami in the 77th minute, following a well-executed cutback from Shuhei Hoshino.
The first half was marked by several near misses and moments of tension. In the eighth minute, Albirex's Haziq Kamarudin delivered a dangerous cross from the right wing, but striker Shingo Nakano narrowly missed connecting with it. Nakano has been a standout player this season, having scored 17 goals prior to this match.
The 23rd minute saw Hoshino come close to scoring when he rattled the crossbar with a powerful shot from outside the box. The Young Lions' defense held firm, with Enomoto making a crucial clearance off the line in the 36th minute to deny Syed Firdaus's shot from a corner.
Tensions escalated in the 43rd minute when Young Lions head coach Nazri Nasir received a red card for his vigorous protests towards the referee. This incident added to the intensity of the match as both teams sought to assert their dominance on the pitch.
The second half began with Albirex being awarded an indirect free kick due to a back pass from Young Lions' Aqil Yazid, which was handled by the goalkeeper inside the box. However, it was in the 77th minute that Arya Igami found the net after Hoshino's precise cutback down the right touchline. This goal proved decisive and showcased Albirex's attacking prowess.
This match also marked a significant moment for Albirex's midfielder Yojiro Takahagi, who played his final game for the club before returning to Japan. Takahagi has represented Japan at the national level three times, and his departure will be felt by both teammates and fans alike. Additionally, Albirex's regular starter Yohei Otake was absent due to ankle surgery; he was replaced by Shuhei Hoshino, who made an impactful contribution to the game.
With this victory, the White Swans overtook Balestier Khalsa in fourth place in the league standings, now sitting on 28 points. Balestier Khalsa follows closely behind in fifth place with 26 points but has played one game less than Albirex. This win not only solidifies Albirex Niigata FC's position but also highlights their resilience despite missing key players.
This game marks the last match for Year 2024 and the season will resume in mid January 2025.
The first half was marked by several near misses and moments of tension. In the eighth minute, Albirex's Haziq Kamarudin delivered a dangerous cross from the right wing, but striker Shingo Nakano narrowly missed connecting with it. Nakano has been a standout player this season, having scored 17 goals prior to this match.
The 23rd minute saw Hoshino come close to scoring when he rattled the crossbar with a powerful shot from outside the box. The Young Lions' defense held firm, with Enomoto making a crucial clearance off the line in the 36th minute to deny Syed Firdaus's shot from a corner.
Tensions escalated in the 43rd minute when Young Lions head coach Nazri Nasir received a red card for his vigorous protests towards the referee. This incident added to the intensity of the match as both teams sought to assert their dominance on the pitch.
The second half began with Albirex being awarded an indirect free kick due to a back pass from Young Lions' Aqil Yazid, which was handled by the goalkeeper inside the box. However, it was in the 77th minute that Arya Igami found the net after Hoshino's precise cutback down the right touchline. This goal proved decisive and showcased Albirex's attacking prowess.
This match also marked a significant moment for Albirex's midfielder Yojiro Takahagi, who played his final game for the club before returning to Japan. Takahagi has represented Japan at the national level three times, and his departure will be felt by both teammates and fans alike. Additionally, Albirex's regular starter Yohei Otake was absent due to ankle surgery; he was replaced by Shuhei Hoshino, who made an impactful contribution to the game.
With this victory, the White Swans overtook Balestier Khalsa in fourth place in the league standings, now sitting on 28 points. Balestier Khalsa follows closely behind in fifth place with 26 points but has played one game less than Albirex. This win not only solidifies Albirex Niigata FC's position but also highlights their resilience despite missing key players.
This game marks the last match for Year 2024 and the season will resume in mid January 2025.
