'We played as a team and won as a team' - Albirex Niigata coach Koichi Sugiyama after his side's 4-3 defeat of SAF FC

Despite seeing his team losing out to an injury time goal after allowing their opponents to claw themselves back into the game in the last fifteen minutes of play, SAFFC coach Richard Bok, felt that his team did put up a good performance against Albirex Niigata.

“We could have at least earned a point and even the three points based on our performance," said Bok.

"Albirex’s type of football is never easy to contain. We did contain them in the game but they got that breakthrough and scored the winning goal.”

Defending his team's style of football, Bok explained: “We wanted to play good attacking football but again, we need to cut out the goals that we are giving away. We got the goals but we need to do better than this as we conceded sloppy goals at the back.”

“We were leading three goals to two and we did not close the game beyond them. We gave them chance to come back, and to let in a last minute goal is really heartbreaking.”

“I think it’s a good game of football and the team that score more goals win the game. We had a good game of football tonight but in the end we lost. I rather have an ugly football [match] and win the game.”

With three points in the bag for Albirex, there was not much that coach Koichi Sugiyama needed to say except emphase on team effort.

Although it was pointed out to him that his tactical changes and substitutions in the second-half changed the course of the game, Sugiyama insisted that the win was due to team effort and not any individual player.

“Form the start, my players played very well and this win is for all of us in the team," said Sugiyama.

"We played as a team and won as a team.”

Sugiyama wrapped things up by revealing that he was never worried nor surprised at his team's capabilities to turn the game around despite trailing by a goal in the second half.

“I have always believed in my players," he proclaimed.

"We can only get stronger from this game as SAFFC is a strong team and by beating them, we are gaining more confidence.”