Defending Champions, Albirex, suffered a devastating 3-2 defeat to fellow title challengers, Lion City Sailors, in Bishan Stadium this evening.
#18 Hassan Sunny
The White Swans took the lead in the 12th minute when left winger Shuto Komaki made a good cross into the box which Seia Kunori headed against the upright. Sailors left back Nur Adam attempted to clear the ball but miskicked the ball into the net.
In the 25th minute, veteran striker, Tadanari Lee, made it 2 nil to Albirex when he turned Kaisei Ogawa's freekick into the net.
Singaporean winger, Junki Yoshimura, could have made it 3 nil when he was through one on one, but a Sailors defender came back in time to make a last ditch tackle to thwart Yoshimura.
While the White Swans controlled the first half, the second half was a totally opposite story.
Sailors replaced the ineffective striker Bernie Ibini with Abdul Rasaq and left back Zulqarnaen Suzliman with veteran winger Hafiz Noh. The substitutions proved effective as they grabbed a goal back in the 49th minute through Diego Lopez with Hafiz Noh's cutback.
4 minutes later, they would level the score when Shawal Anuar stole unmarked at the left far post to tap in Maxime Lestienne's teasing cross into the box.
The turnaround was completed in the 75th minute when one-touch football between Lopez and Lestienne cut through the White Swan's defence and Abdul Rasaq volleyed Lestienne's cross into the net.
To add insult to injury, Albirex goalkeeper, Hassan Sunny, had to be substituted in the 85th minute with a head injury.
The White Swans would have to regroup quickly for the next match on Friday, 26 May, when they host in-form Balestier Khalsa at Jurong East Stadium. Kickoff is 7.45pm.
Match Detail
#18 Hassan Sunny
The White Swans took the lead in the 12th minute when left winger Shuto Komaki made a good cross into the box which Seia Kunori headed against the upright. Sailors left back Nur Adam attempted to clear the ball but miskicked the ball into the net.
In the 25th minute, veteran striker, Tadanari Lee, made it 2 nil to Albirex when he turned Kaisei Ogawa's freekick into the net.
Singaporean winger, Junki Yoshimura, could have made it 3 nil when he was through one on one, but a Sailors defender came back in time to make a last ditch tackle to thwart Yoshimura.
While the White Swans controlled the first half, the second half was a totally opposite story.
Sailors replaced the ineffective striker Bernie Ibini with Abdul Rasaq and left back Zulqarnaen Suzliman with veteran winger Hafiz Noh. The substitutions proved effective as they grabbed a goal back in the 49th minute through Diego Lopez with Hafiz Noh's cutback.
4 minutes later, they would level the score when Shawal Anuar stole unmarked at the left far post to tap in Maxime Lestienne's teasing cross into the box.
The turnaround was completed in the 75th minute when one-touch football between Lopez and Lestienne cut through the White Swan's defence and Abdul Rasaq volleyed Lestienne's cross into the net.
To add insult to injury, Albirex goalkeeper, Hassan Sunny, had to be substituted in the 85th minute with a head injury.
The White Swans would have to regroup quickly for the next match on Friday, 26 May, when they host in-form Balestier Khalsa at Jurong East Stadium. Kickoff is 7.45pm.
Match Detail
