Albirex's Defensive Errors Costly in Narrow Defeat
In a hard-fought opening match of Group A in the Singapore Cup, Albirex narrowly lost 2-1 to Hougang United.
Albirex faced an early setback in the 18th minute when Hougang United took the lead from a corner, with Zulfahmi Arifin scoring a low and firm goal from outside the box. The situation worsened in the 25th minute as a defensive error by centreback Stevia Egbus Mikuni allowed Dejan Račić to extend Hougang's lead to 2-0.
Though their top scorer, Shingo Nakano, was absent from the starting lineup due to a minor injury, Albirex continued to press forward. Nakano was introduced in the second half and made an immediate impact by scoring a goal in the 63rd minute.
Their relentless efforts to find an equalizer were thwarted by Hougang United's strong defense, denying Albirex a comeback.
Albirex will be looking to bounce back in their next fixture and improve their performance as they continue their Group A campaign.
Albirex faced an early setback in the 18th minute when Hougang United took the lead from a corner, with Zulfahmi Arifin scoring a low and firm goal from outside the box. The situation worsened in the 25th minute as a defensive error by centreback Stevia Egbus Mikuni allowed Dejan Račić to extend Hougang's lead to 2-0.
Though their top scorer, Shingo Nakano, was absent from the starting lineup due to a minor injury, Albirex continued to press forward. Nakano was introduced in the second half and made an immediate impact by scoring a goal in the 63rd minute.
Their relentless efforts to find an equalizer were thwarted by Hougang United's strong defense, denying Albirex a comeback.
Albirex will be looking to bounce back in their next fixture and improve their performance as they continue their Group A campaign.
