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Albirex Niigata (Singapore) midfielder Musashi Okuyama scored nine minutes from time to give his side a precious 1-0 away win over Balestier Khalsa on Wednesday evening.
The result was enough to edge the White Swans into fourth place, overtaking SAFFC on goal difference.
Okuyama’s goal came following a team move involving Bruno Suzuki Castanheira and Tatsuro Inui, who exploited an error by Balestier defender Lim Young Woo to create the chance.
After being sent through by Castanheira, Inui got past a hesitant Lim and continued the motion to Okuyama, who directed the ball straight into the back of the net for his third goal of the season, leaving Lim and goalkeeper Joey Sim no chance to stop him.
Having successfully held onto the bulk of the possession, breaking the deadlock was good news for the White Swans and their chairman Daisuke Korenaga, who cut an intense figure in the stands at Toa Payoh before showing relief at the final whistle.
But for Balestier, not being able to gain at least a point despite having a share of rued chances was disappointing, according to their head coach Salim Moin.
“I am upset with the result,” he told sleague.com.
“It was a scrappy and disappointing game; we should have had more control of the game.
“Chances-wise, it was very fair for both teams. We are not a defensive team; we are an attacking team, and we knew if we pressed them (Albirex), they would make mistakes.
“So we pressed them, and they made mistakes, but we could not convert, which is why I am not satisfied with the team’s performance.”
Indeed, the game seemed to be heading towards a goalless draw with chances appearing in abundance but none going on to be converted, the first threat coming eleven minutes after kickoff when Inui released Yosuke Saito down the left flank.
Saito did well to evade Anaz Hadee before directing the ball on target, which Sim promptly punched away.
Ten minutes later, Inui rocked the crossbar, and the rebound fell to Kunihiro Yamashita, who was nullified quickly in yet another great opportunity missed for the away side.
At the other end of the pitch, Balestier had their chances too, Vitor Borges almost opening accounts on 25 minutes after a mistake from Yamashita allowed the Brazilian to charge towards Yoshito Matsushita.
To Yamashita’s relief, however, the custodian succeeded in his interception.
Teamwork among the attackers was evident with the Japanese side, as Okuyama broke through the opposing defence to heel a back-pass to Inui, who connected well.
Luckily for the home team, Armanizam Dolah was in the right place to dismiss the danger.
After the break, both teams came out in search of the elusive winner, increasing the intensity of the game and drawing more gasps and sighs from the fans.
Borges was in action again on 61 minutes, having turned away from his markers and deflected a shot into the path of Matsushita, while a lapse in concentration 13 minutes later saw Armanizam missing a loose ball, which his teammate Kim Young Kwang fortuitously picked up for a shot that did not trouble Matsushita.
Then came Okuyama’s goal that changed the complexion of the game, since there was nothing to lose for Balestier as their attacking line was pushed forward.
But time was perhaps insufficient eventually for the Tigers, who recently came back from a two-goal deficit to earn a draw against Hougang United.
That could not be repeated this time around, as Albirex managed their third win in a row.
It was a result that pleased White Swans head coach Koichi Sugiyama.
“Not only the players, all on the bench and the backroom staff have contributed their efforts, and if we can continue this effort, we can continue to win,” he acknowledged after the match.
“It was quite a hard game. Balestier have many tough players, and it was very difficult towards the end, but our players were strong and we knew we could overcome this.
“If we want to be at the top of the league, we knew we need to win this game; this is a big game to win.
“We had many chances in the first half, but we could not score. So although we won this tough game, we need to reflect before our next game.”
Balestier coach Salim was meanwhile more critical of his players.
“Sometimes we need intelligence,” he remarked.
“Albirex is a different team, not your usual team, so the game needs intelligence. But what my team lacks is that intelligence.
“Which is why, although the performance is okay, I am not satisfied.”
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