Played
July 27, 2012 7:30 PM SGT
July 27, 2012 7:30 PM SGT
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Albirex Niigata (S) 2-0 Balestier Khalsa: White Swans earn full points with Yamakoshi double
Defending Champions got off to a winning start in Group B against Balestier Khalsa courtesy of a Yamakoshi double in the second half.
By Muhd Khalis Rifhan
Zeng Liwei
The White Swans started the game offensively and ten minutes in, Yasuhiro Yamakoshi struck from twenty yards out but Zakariah Nerani was equal to it.
Zakariah was kept busy in the opening stages of the game and his acrobatics in goal kept the Tigers alive in the first half.
In the 23rd minute of the game, Zakariah brilliantly tipped the ball over the crossbar from a pinpoint header by Yamakoshi.
The visitors were seeing more of the ball in their own half as the White Swans dominated play and created chances through the midfield duo of Musashi Okuyama and Atsushi Shimono.
Zulkiffli Hassim squandered a chance midway in the first half for the Tigers when he lost his balance in the penalty box scuffing his shot from close range.
The deadlock was finally broken three minutes after the break as Takeshi Ito managed to break free from his marker down the right byline before playing the ball across goal.
It eluded Zakariah in goal and the entire Tigers defence for a simplest of tap in by Yamakoshi to give his team the lead.
Tempers soon began to flare midway in the second half as Atsushi Shimono and Syed Taha got into a mini-scuffle and both were shown the yellow card for their heated exchange of words.
The game was soon put out of the visitor reach with Yamakoshi adding a second ten minutes before the end.
With his back against goal, Yamakoshi struck a first time effort, spectacularly sending the ball beyond the stranded Zakariah for the second and final goal of the night.
The 2-0 win ensured a winning start for Koichi Sugiyama's men who will be looking to keep hold of the silverware from last year.
In the night's other match, Tampines Rovers recorded a 3-1 win over Woodlands Wellington in Group D. Aleksandar Duric grabbed a second half brace with Jamil Ali opening the scoring on 51 minutes. Aloysius Yap grabbed the Ram's consolation in the 67th minute.
Zakariah was kept busy in the opening stages of the game and his acrobatics in goal kept the Tigers alive in the first half.
In the 23rd minute of the game, Zakariah brilliantly tipped the ball over the crossbar from a pinpoint header by Yamakoshi.
| Bet: | Returns: | Albirex(S) €28.00 | Draw €32.50 | Home €22.00 |
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The visitors were seeing more of the ball in their own half as the White Swans dominated play and created chances through the midfield duo of Musashi Okuyama and Atsushi Shimono.
Zulkiffli Hassim squandered a chance midway in the first half for the Tigers when he lost his balance in the penalty box scuffing his shot from close range.
The deadlock was finally broken three minutes after the break as Takeshi Ito managed to break free from his marker down the right byline before playing the ball across goal.
It eluded Zakariah in goal and the entire Tigers defence for a simplest of tap in by Yamakoshi to give his team the lead.
Tempers soon began to flare midway in the second half as Atsushi Shimono and Syed Taha got into a mini-scuffle and both were shown the yellow card for their heated exchange of words.
The game was soon put out of the visitor reach with Yamakoshi adding a second ten minutes before the end.
With his back against goal, Yamakoshi struck a first time effort, spectacularly sending the ball beyond the stranded Zakariah for the second and final goal of the night.
The 2-0 win ensured a winning start for Koichi Sugiyama's men who will be looking to keep hold of the silverware from last year.
In the night's other match, Tampines Rovers recorded a 3-1 win over Woodlands Wellington in Group D. Aleksandar Duric grabbed a second half brace with Jamil Ali opening the scoring on 51 minutes. Aloysius Yap grabbed the Ram's consolation in the 67th minute.
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Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Indra Sahdan bin Daud Striker Home |
3 | 0 |
|
|
Aliff Shafaein Midfielder Home |
3 | 0 |
|
Aleksandar Duric Striker Tampines |
2 | 0 |
|
|
Min-Ho Kim Striker Balestier |
2 | 0 |
|
Sho Kamimura Striker Shillong Lajong |
2 | 0 |