Geylang International's seven-game undefeated streak came to an end on Thursday evening after they were given a 4-2 annihilation by Albirex Niigata (S) at Jurong East Stadium.
Kazuki Sakamoto, Shuhei Hotta, Kazuya Okazaki and Kento Nagasaki carved their names onto the scoresheet while Fabian Kwok and Ridhuan Muhammad scored for the Eagles.
The White Swans took the driver’s seat through Kazuki Sakamoto as they took an early lead in the game.
Leonel Felice made a mis-pass to Kazuya while the midfielder perfectly laid a through ball into space for Sakamoto to lock on to. Protecting Joaquin Lopez away, the latter opened the ball into the bottom corner from 15 yards out.
However, it didn't take long for Geylang to force themselves to level and it was Kwok who only did that with his 50-yard marvel strike in the 32nd minute.
With the Eagles heaping the weight on the striking end, Albirex goalkeeper Kazuki Kishigami was compelled to make a clearance which fell consummately for Kwok.
The midfielder then splendidly struck the ball in mid-air as the ball cruised towards the goal and dipped past Kazuki.
The following half ended up being a more energizing than the first, as spectators were delighted with four more goals.
Afterwards, for the first time in the match, Geylang took the lead.
Kwok turned scorer-provider as he discovered Ridhuan in space for the skipper to place his finish past the hapless Kishigami.
Nonetheless, Albirex set themselves back into the game in under ten minutes through Shuhei. From a Keisuke Ota whipped cross down the right, the skipper executed a striker-esque's completion to impact it into the top corner from the six-yard box on the 54th minute.
The momentum suddenly shifted to Albirex from that point on and they soon recovered the lead in the 71st minute through Kazuya.
From the left, Itsuki Yamada heaved a cross in for the forward to volley into Joey Sim's palms, yet the force of the shot was so much it would have been impossible for the custodian to handle and bungled the ball and permitted it to move past the goal-line.
Nine minutes later, Kento then fixed the win for his side in the wake of setting the ball in the middle of the posts in a one-on-one attempt with Sim.
The Eagles had no possibility to get back and to intensify things, they were reduced to 10 men when Mustaqim Manzur gained marching orders for a second bookable offense in the 85th minute.
Finally, the last whistle was blown by the referee ending the thrilling match between Geylang and Albirex.
Catatan
