SINGAPORE- Watching the first half from the bench, Kuraba Kondo could barely sit still, itching to come on and make the difference for Albirex Niigata against Tampines Rovers.

His wishes were answered as the 18-year-old half-time substitute netted a 63rd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory for Albirex at the Jurong East Stadium on Sunday evening, sending the Japanese side to the top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) standings.

Albirex lead the way with 14 points from six matches, a point above Hougang United.

The result was all the more important given that defending champions Albirex broke a three-match losing streak against the Stags.

Captain Kazuki Hashioka had said before the match that he and his teammates had a "special feeling" towards the Stags given that Tampines had won the last three encounters.

The euphoria of the win, despite it being only six games into the season, showed at full-time as well with Albirex's players visibly delighted, punching the air and dropping to the turf.

Said Kondo through a translator : "During the first half, I was really hoping that I would come on and score, so I am very happy to have done exactly that. At half-time, I was told by coach that I need to look for spaces, hold the ball and look for good chances.

"It was important that we won today especially because of the two defeats last season. This win and goal gives me the motivation to score more goals this season and help my team to more victories."

Tampines opened accounts in the ninth minute when Montenegrin duo Armin Bosnjak and Boris Kopitovic combined efficiently. Bosnjak cut back onto his stronger right foot from the left flank and crossed it for Kopitovic to meet the delivery with an outstretched leg just in front of Japanese goalkeeper Takahiro Koga.

Albirex levelled proceedings in the 21st minute after lovely play down the left saw Yu Tokiwa cross for Ryoya Taniguchi to apply the finish in the box.

In the 63rd minute, the Stags failed to clear the lines effectively. Kondo was teed up just inside the box and his shot took a deflection off Madhu Mohana before finding the back of the net.

Stags head coach Gavin Lee will now look for his side to bounce back in their next matches.

He said: "Credit to Albirex today. They created chances and took them. I thought we fatigued ourselves unnecessarily in the first half by making some errors in our decision making. We dropped too deep and we should have done a lot better in that area.

"I know the level this team can get to and the challenge is to get ourselves to that. I know the boys can do it and we'll be looking ahead to that."

In the evening's other match, Lion City Sailors' Brazilian playmaker Diego Lopes got his first goals in Singapore football and in the process netted a hat-trick in an 8-0 thumping of Geylang International.

Analysis

When Albirex take to the pitch in the SPL, it is always expected that the Japanese side will look to dominate possession while taking the game to their opponents. It is why their match-up with Tampines Rovers, who also look to play a possession-based game, is always an interesting one.

This encounter proved no different as both sides grappled hard to gain possession with both sets of midfielders seeing most of the ball in the game.

But ultimately, it was the Japanese side's defence that proved to be the difference. In six matches so far, Albirex have conceded only four goals, with half of them coming in the 2-2 draw with title favourites Lion City Sailors.

As much as the likes of Kopitovic, Bosnjak, Yasir Hanapi and Zehrudin Mehmedovic threw at Albirex, the Japanese side stayed resolute in defence. Their defending is also helped by Koga, who marshalled the backline well and is always vocal as the last man.

Unlike previous seasons when Albirex only caught the eye going forward, the switch to a defence-first approach was visible especially as they kept at least nine men behind the ball on several occasions when Tampines looked to attack.

With local teams especially Sailors and Tampines looking to dethrone Albirex as the defending champions, they could take a leaf out of Albirex's new playbook and realise that defence may well be the best form of attack.