It was business as usual for the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team on Saturday (2 May) night as they swept aside seventh-placed Tanjong Pagar United 11-0 at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium to stay firmly in pursuit of Women’s Premier League (WPL) leaders Albirex Jurong.

Japanese forward Ami Takeuchi stole the spotlight once again, as she scored a remarkable six goals to power the Sailors to a 10th win in 11 league matches this season.

Eri Kitagawa and Dhaniyah Qasimah added a brace each, while Raeka Ee opened her account for the campaign, as the three-time WPL champions surged past the century mark to reach 109 goals for the season.

Speaking after the game, defender Irsalina Irwan heaped praise on Takeuchi, who has enjoyed a sensational debut campaign with 40 goals to her name.

“It’s fantastic to have a player of Ami’s calibre in the team. We can learn so much from her day in, day out in training, from the way she thinks on the pitch to the movements she makes to become such a threat,” said the Singapore international.

“She not only drives the team on the pitch, but is also a proper role model off it. We hope she can continue this form until the end of the season.”

Head Coach Daniel Ong made just one change to the side that thrashed Still Aerion 9-0 the previous week, as Beatrice Tan marked her return from a posterior cruciate ligament injury with her first WPL appearance in 230 days.

But the veteran goalkeeper had little to do, with the Sailors in complete control from the outset.

The Sailors’ breakthrough took just 10 minutes to arrive when Dhaniyah’s speculative effort slipped past Vanessa Tan, before Eri doubled the lead 11 minutes later after reacting quickest to a spilled cross for the Sailors’ 100th goal of the campaign.

To their credit, Tanjong Pagar held firm for long spells of the first half, as they sat deep and limited clear openings. But the Sailors gradually found their rhythm, increasing the tempo and precision of their passing in the final third.

The Sailors’ relentless pressure eventually told late in the half, when Takeuchi pounced on a loose ball in the 37th minute after Farah Nurzahirah’s volley rattled the crossbar, before she linked up with teenage namesake Ami Kawase to score twice more in quick succession to send the Sailors into the break with a commanding 5-0 lead.

Reflecting on the challenge posed by the Jaguars, Dhaniyah said, “It wasn’t easy to break through as Tanjong Pagar played a very compact block and the spaces were tight. We had to be quicker in our decision-making, and I’m pleased we kept trying to play our football and combine well to find openings.

Takeuchi showed no signs of slowing after the restart, and she soon completed her hat-trick before adding two more goals from a pair of pinpoint Irsalina crosses in the 49th and 59th minutes.

Venetia Lim then made an impact off the bench, delivering a deep cross for Eri to head home her 20th goal of the season on 64 minutes.

Dhaniyah struck again from distance in the 74th minute to cap off a fine individual display, before Takeuchi wrapped up her six-goal haul with a thunderous volley six minutes later to make it 10-0.

The 20-year-old’s tally now stands at 40 goals for the season, putting her six clear of Albirex’s Ruriko Takashima in the race for the Golden Boot.

There was still time for one final flourish, as Raeka slotted home late on to become the Sailors’ 14th different scorer this season.

The Sailors have now hit double figures in six of their 11 matches, underlining the cutting edge required in a title race that could yet be decided on goal difference.

They currently hold the advantage in that regard with a +107 differential to Albirex’s +99, although the White Swans remain three points ahead with five rounds to play.

The two sides will meet again on 12 June in a potentially decisive clash, but the Sailors must first negotiate fixtures against BG Tampines Rovers and Geylang International on 9 and 15 May respectively.

Nonetheless, Irsalina is confident her side can maintain their momentum as they chase a return to the summit.

“I see a very hungry squad, and we just want to keep improving and pushing as a team. Of course we’re chasing Albirex, but the key is to focus on our own performances and take each game as it comes.”