Albirex fight back, Young Lions stun Home

GEYLANG INT'L 3

ALBIREX NIIGATA 4

Albirex Niigata produced the comeback of this Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League season, as they recovered from 3-0 down to beat Geylang International 4-3 at Bedok Stadium last night to keep their title hopes alive.

A Kento Fukuda brace and a goal by Leonel Felice seemed to have given the Eagles an unassailable first-half lead.

But goals from Kazuki Sakamoto - his 20th league goal - Koki Akasaka, Keisuke Ota and, finally, Norihiro Kawakami in second-half injury time completed a heroic fightback.

After two rounds of competition, the White Swans are now second with 40 points, three behind leaders Brunei DPMM FC, while Geylang are eighth with 24 points.

There was also another shock result at the Bishan Stadium as the Courts Young Lions stunned title contenders Home United 3-0 with goals from Shameer Aziq, Sahil Suhaimi and Jordan Webb.

With the win, the Young Lions climbed out of the bottom two for the first time this season to move up to 10th with 19 points, while Home United fall to fifth with 38 points.

A minute's silence was observed before both matches, in memory of former Singapore national captain Lee Kok Seng, who died of pneumonia last Friday at the age of 81.

The same mark of respect will take place in tonight's "live" match between Warriors FC and Tampines Rovers at Jalan Besar.

- DAVID LEE

LAST NIGHT'S OTHER RESULT:

• Home United 0 Young Lions 3