SINGAPORE- The Lion City Sailors rescued a degree on the dying on Friday (March 18) evening on the Jurong East Stadium for a 1-1 draw in opposition to final yr’s runners-up and most important rivals Albirex Niigata.
For giant durations of the tie, it appeared just like the Sailors had been heading for his or her second defeat in 4 video games, having solely misplaced as soon as in 21 matches final season. But within the ninetieth minute, referee Muhammad Taqi pointed to the spot as he had assessed that Tatsuya Sambongi had hauled Sailors ahead Kim Shin-wook to the bottom.
Up stepped substitute Gabriel Quak to ship goalkeeper Takahiro Koga the unsuitable method to salvage a degree. There was a way of deja vu because the Sailors’ final outing final Sunday additionally noticed the defending champions bettered by their opponents Tampines Rovers, just for a Kim penalty to grant them three factors in a 1-0 victory.
But whereas that was a contentious penalty choice, this time an accurate final result was reached.
Despite the late equaliser, the Sailors continued to flatter to deceive of their title defence and have now picked up simply seven out of a doable 12 factors with two wins, a draw and a loss – they had been shocked 1-0 by Geylang International on March 4.
While Friday’s sport was billed because the conflict of the title contenders, either side needed to make do with out a few of their star gamers as The Straits Times understands that there have been Covid-19 circumstances in their squads.
Albirex’s former Japan worldwide Tadanari Lee and winger Masahiro Sugita, who every have a aim and two assists this season, weren’t named within the squad.
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Former South Korean captain Kim, who has scored twice this season for the Sailors, was on the bench and got here on as a late second-half substitute whereas newly minted Lions midfielder Song Ui-young didn’t make the squad. Lions wingers Quak and Faris Ramli had been additionally included within the squad as they work their approach again to full health and the previous was introduced on to attain the essential equaliser.
The Sailors made 5 adjustments to the beginning line-up that was unconvincing of their 1-0 victory over Tampines Rovers final Sunday. Out went Kim, Song, Haiqal Pashia, Naqiuddin Eunos and Saifullah Akbar. In their place, Anaqi Ismit made his debut for the Sailors whereas Amiruldin Asraf, Tajeli Salamat, Adam Swandi and Hafiz Nor additionally featured.
And provided that the primary forged weren’t in motion, it was a defender that broke the impasse on the stroke of half-time after a half devoid of a lot goalmouth motion.
A Kan Kobayashi nook discovered Daichi Omori outdoors the field and the left-back unleashed a left-footed half volley that took a deflection earlier than hitting the again of the web.
With the newest outcome, the Sailors haven’t crushed Albirex in six league conferences, having suffered equivalent 3-2 defeats in 2020 earlier than three consecutive attracts in 2021.
In the evening’s different fixture performed on the Our Tampines Hub, Tampines Rovers recovered from final week’s loss to Sailors in model as they thumped Hougang United 7-1.
Boris Kopitovic scored a hat-trick and Taufik Suparno had a brace whereas Zehrudin Mehmedovic scored from a bicycle kick earlier than Marc Ryan Tan added one other. Shawal Anuar received a comfort aim for the Cheetahs.
