An Izzati brace and goals from Dorcas Chu and Madison Telmer get Sailors Women off to perfect start in Deloitte Women's Premier League
Lion City Sailors women celebrate their opening day win against Albirex Niigata at Yishun Stadium. PHOTO: LION CITY SAILORS FC
Singapore, 6 June 2022 - Lion City Sailors kicked off their Deloitte Women's Premier League campaign with a convincing 4-1 defeat of Albirex Niigata in a highly anticipated match-up at Yishun Stadium.
Familiar chants of Albirex fans from last weekend returned, but the voices that echoed around the Yishun Stadium grounds were met with rival voices from passionate Lion City Sailors fans this week who sang for almost the full 90 minutes.
Goals from Nur Izzati (2), Dorcas Chu and Madison Telmer for the Sailors sealed all three points and inflicted a second defeat for the White Swans, who responded through Nadhra Aqilah, scoring for the second match on the trot.
Nur Izzati scores into an empty net with the Albirex keeper stranded in the Sailors' win against Albirex Niigata at Yishun Stadium. PHOTO: LION CITY SAILORS FC
Early scare for Albirex
The match’s first chance on goal fell for The Sailors when Sara Merican’s cross very nearly crept into goal. The ball pinged off the bar and fell perfectly for Miray Altun. Her shot was saved brilliantly from point blank range by Maisarah Rahmat.
With 15 minutes to go in the first half, Sit Nor Aqilah was brought on to replace Nur Sarah Zu’risqha after the latter clashed heads with The Sailors’s Telmer. The Albirex forward stayed down for a worrying amount of time before walking off on her own. Telmer however, was cleared to continue after having her head wrapped.
Lion City Sailors 's Dorcas Chu celebrates her goal with her Sailors teammates. PHOTO: LION CITY SAILORS FC
Izzati breaks the deadlock
Chu’s high pressing eventually caused problems for Maisarah who was unable to keep hold of the ball. While lying on the ground, Chu managed to lay the ball off for Izzati who finished it off into an empty net to make it 1-0.
It did not take long for them to extend their lead after the start of the second half despite Albirex’s strong start. Chu got her goal this time after setting up the first as a through ball was played into the box. The forward put it past the keeper clinically.
The Sailors made it 3-0 in the 67th minute but not without some drama. Nur Umairah delivered a dangerous free kick from the right flank into a sea of white and orange. Telmer got her head on it, but the goal was ruled offside. The first official overruled the decision after a short discussion with his linesman and ultimately awarded the goal.
Lion City Sailors women turned in a dominant performance on the opening day of their campaign in the Deloitte Women's Premier League. PHOTO: LION CITY SAILORS FC
Clinical Nadhra reduces deficit for Albirex
The White Swans clawed a goal back with 10 minutes left through Nadhra, who had been terrorising the left wing for most of the second half. Tracing Noralinda Wahab’s free kick delivery carefully all the way, she timed her jump well and headed the ball, watching it dip into the net leaving Beatrice Tan no chance. Noralinda then had her own chance to make it 3-2 but Munirah Mohamad’s last-ditch tackle was well timed.
Lion City Sailors got their fourth and final goal through Izzati who pounced on a mistake by Maisarah. Facing an open goal, the striker finished it off calmly with a no look shot.
Lion City Sailors fans in full voice at Yishun Stadium. PHOTO: LION CITY SAILORS FC
Like last weekend against Tanjong Pagar, Albirex put up a good fight and never seemed to back down despite the scoreline. However, the highly experienced Lion City Sailors squad, many of whom represented Singapore at the SEA Games, was too much for Albirex to handle. The Sailors face Balestier Khalsa next week while Albirex Niigata return the following week, also against The Tigresses.
More photos from the match available in SportPlus.sg's photo gallery here.
Deloitte Women's Premier League 2022
Other Match Week 2 Results
Tiong Bahru 4-1 Hougang United Sun, 5 June 2022, St Wilfrid Sports Complex
Tanjong Pagar United 5-0 Balestier Khalsa Sun, 5 June 2022, Yishun Stadium
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