In Round 7 of the league, Albirex Niigata FC (S), aiming for a third consecutive victory, welcomed Geylang International FC at home in what was a crucial match that could influence the race at the top of the table for both sides.

The visitors controlled the early stages, forcing Albirex to spend extended periods defending deep in their own half.

Maintaining a compact shape, Albirex gradually adapted to the flow of the game and began to enjoy more possession.

In the 30th minute, the opponents created a chance inside the box, but the Albirex defense threw themselves into the challenge to deny a goal.

Four minutes later, a through pass from Naoki Yoshioka to Alaba sparked an attacking move, and the subsequent cross found Shingo Nakano in front of goal. However, tight pressure from the defense prevented him from getting a shot away.

In the 35th minute, Katsuyuki Ishibashi tried his luck with an aggressive long-range effort, but it was well saved by the opposing goalkeeper.

A dangerous moment followed in the 40th minute after a misplaced pass at the back, but goalkeeper Takahiro Koga, making his first start of the season, showed great composure to make a crucial save and keep the team level.

Just before the break, in the 45th minute, Cho Eunsu made a sharp run down the left flank and delivered a cross that Shingo Nakano met with a header. The effort, however, went straight to the goalkeeper. Despite both teams creating chances, the first half ended goalless at 0-0.

The second half began in a similar fashion, with the opposition enjoying more of the ball and Albirex forced onto the defensive. The back line remained calm and well organized, avoiding any major breakdowns. In the 62nd minute, possession was lost along the defensive line, leading to a clear chance for the opponents, but the move was ruled offside, allowing Albirex to escape.

In the 66th minute, substitute Yang Hyeonju changed the momentum of the match. Picking up the ball on the left side, he drove forward aggressively and delivered a sharp low cross into the box. His pass was met calmly by Nozomi Ozawa in the center, who finished first time to score the long-awaited opening goal.

Eight minutes later, another cross from Yang Hyeonju found Nakano, whose header narrowly failed to produce a second goal.

The closing stages were filled with pressure. In the 76th minute, a corner kick was met by a header from the opposition, but Nicky Melvin Singh cleared it with his head. A minute later, another corner led to a dangerous header, which was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Koga. In the 83rd minute, a free kick was headed on goal, but the effort struck the post and went out.

Despite the pressure, Albirex sealed the win in the 90th minute when Liska calmly converted a rebound from Yang Hyeonju’s shot to score a vital second goal. In added time, the team survived another scare as the ball struck the crossbar, but they stayed focused until the final whistle, securing a 2-0 victory.

It was a match where the team spent long spells defending, but their concentration at key moments and resilient defending, led by goalkeeper Koga, resulted in a clean sheet. Impactful contributions from the substitutes shifted the flow of the game, and the team showed their ability to grind out a win under difficult circumstances, claiming a third straight league victory.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

【Next Match】

Singapore Premier League – Round 8

9th February (Monday) | 7:30 PM vs Hougang United FC

@Jurong East Stadium (HOME)