Official Cup

Golden Palace
Spectators: 208 (Terracing: 156, Seating: 48, VIP seats: 4) Ali Choy started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. When the match had gone on for 12 minutes, Sayer Al Besher took a quick shot and it went in 1-0 without a chance for Dale Lim to make any attempt to save it. Dale Lim took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fawaz Boland, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Albirex Niigata FC's Dale Lim proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 17th minute of the match, managed to save Albirex Niigata FC from getting a goal against them. Albirex Niigata FC were furious when Lamar Yang was red carded, 23 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. In the 23rd minute, one of Albirex Niigata FC:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Albirex Niigata FC. Azli Seah kicked well hit freekick during the 32nd minute of the match. Albirex Niigata FC's Dale Lim proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 44th minute of the match, managed to save Albirex Niigata FC from getting a goal against them. 45 minutes into the game, Golden Tigers's Hakem Khorshed nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dale Lim made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-0. Af the end of the first half the score was 3-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Hakem Al Attar made a kick off. Albirex Niigata FC's Daniel Chuan pulled a muscle in his back after 52 minutes and couldn't finish the game. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ali Al Towatan during the 52nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Ali Al Towatan kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. In the 54th minute, Albirex Niigata FC's Azli Seah ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind José Alberto Chilavert. José Alberto Chilavert yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 3-1. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Fawaz Boland in the 57th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dale Lim saved Albirex Niigata FC from getting behind. In the 63rd minute Hakem Al Attar shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dale Lim saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dale Lim showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hakem Al Attar, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. In the 72ndth minute of the game Sayer Al Besher who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Albirex Niigata FC's Dale Lim was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 74 minutes into the match, Albirex Niigata FC's goal looked a bit too open when Abdul Aziz Al Holey came free, but Dale Lim reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Golden Tigers's zone, Ali Choy stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. José Alberto Chilavert came out of the goal and Ali Choy tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Fawaz Boland sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The crowd rose to their feet as Albirex Niigata FC's Azli Seah slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of José Alberto Chilavert. That made the score 3-2 after 84 minutes of play. José Alberto Chilavert made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ali Choy in the 91st minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ali Choy got free with José Alberto Chilavert in the 94th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Albirex Niigata FC's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.