LCS secure dominant Community Shield win over Albirex

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The Lion City Sailors (LCS) set their sails for a successful season with a convincing 2-0 victory over Albirex Niigata Singapore in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) Community Shield last night (4th May).

This match marked a significant milestone for Albirex, playing their first season as a primarily local club after years of fielding a Japanese-dominant squad. Unfortunately for the White Swans, the Sailors proved too strong, controlling the game from the first whistle.

4 May 2024 – A second Community Shield triumph for the Sailors as club captain Hariss Harun lifts the trophy (Photo by Tan Kwang Yu)

A lively crowd of 4,148 at Jalan Besar Stadium witnessed the familiar magic of Maxime Lestienne – the reigning SPL Player of the Year. The Belgian orchestrated the opening goal in the 43rd minute, feeding Shawal Anuar for a composed finish. Lestienne wasn’t done there, securing the win with a contentious penalty conversion in the 82nd minute.

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The pre-match buzz wasn’t limited to the pitch. Fans arriving early were treated to a vibrant fan zone experience outside the stadium with food trucks and carnival game booths. Adding to the excitement, all the clubs’ new jerseys were displayed, allowing fans to get a closer look at their team’s fresh kits.

Sailors on treble bid

Aleksandar Ranković’s side displayed defensive solidity with the pair of Lionel Tan new signing Toni Datkovic, limiting the reigning SPL champions to just a single shot on target. This win serves as a major confidence boost for the Sailors, who begin their SPL campaign against Hougang United.

4 May 2024 – Luka Lalić, Aleksandar Ranković and Badri Ghent sharing the stage with the Community Shield trophy (Photo by Tan Kwang Yu)

After the game, Technical Director Luka Lalic posted on his

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“>Instagram with the caption “33% Treble Loading”, signaling their targets for the 2024/25 season with the domestic competitions and regional AFC Champions League 2 on the calendar.

However, there was a notable absence in the Sailors’ line-up. Fan favorite Richairo Živković was not spotted with the squad, fueling rumors of an imminent departure from the club.

More than a friendly

The second half wasn’t without its drama. A heated confrontation erupted between the coaching teams from both sides following a reckless tackle by Lionel Tan, with officials stepping in to separate both sides.

4 May 2024 – Players and coaches clashed in the technical area during the second half (Photo by Tan Kwang Yu)

Albirex nearly snatched a consolation goal in the dying minutes with a free kick from Yohei Otake. Zharfan Rohaizad, however, produced a fantastic save to palm the ball away, with Gareth Low blasting the follow-up shot well over the bar.

Despite the loss, Albirex Niigata’s new signing Stevia Egbus Mikuni was awarded Man-of-the-Match.

The post-match ceremony also saw a continuation of the tensions between fans and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). Both FAS president, Bernard Tan and General Secretary, Yazeen Buhari were both targets of boos and jeers during the prize presentation.

4 May 2024 – Albirex’s Kazuaki Yoshinaga sharing a handshake with the FAS president during the prize presentation (Photo by Tan Kwang Yu)

Albirex’s coach Kazuaki Yoshinaga was also seen to snub a handshake with the FAS president, before reminded by the officials around him. The 56-year old was rumoured to be part of the final shortlist for the role of National Team Head Coach last year, before Tsutomu Ogura took the role.

Season start

The SPL season kicks off on May 10th with Hougang United hosting the Lion City Sailors. Albirex will have their work cut out for them in their season opener against Tampines Rovers on the 12th. Catch all the action LIVE on meWATCH and YouTube.

This article is written with the help of Google Gemini.