Albirex Niigata (S) moved top of the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League on Friday after recording a hard-fought 1-0 win over Harimau Muda at the Hang Jebat Stadium.
The only goal of the game arrived five minutes after the hour mark when Atsushi Kawata converted from close range to notch his third goal of the campaign, handing his side maximum points in the process.
However, it could -- and perhaps should -- have been a much more comfortable outcome for the Japanese side had they been able to make the most of their dominance.
Nonetheless, the result was still enough to send the White Swans top of the table on nine points, ahead of Tampines Rovers on goal difference after the Stags were beaten 3-2 by Geylang International in the night's other game.
Following consecutive victories over Warriors FC and Balestier Khalsa, Albirex entered the clash high on confidence and threatened after just four minutes; Kawata trying his luck from 20 yards with a shot that narrowly sailed over the bar.
The visitors continued to look dangerous with Fumiya Kogure pulling the strings in the attacking third, but they were just unable to carve out any real clear-cut openings.
Harimau Muda could have made their opponents pay but they too were wasteful in front of goal, with Syazwan Andik firing wide with only Yosuke Nozawa to beat in the 35th minute.
But the White Swans continued to press in search of the opener and only a fine double save from opposition keeper Ramdhan Hamid denied them the breakthrough seven minutes into the second half, as he kept out efforts from Kawata and Kogure in quick succession.
Still, their persistence finally paid off in the 65th minute when Hikaru Mizuno found himself in space and played a low cross into the box, with Kawata on hand to slot home the winner.
The goal did spur the Malaysian youngsters into action and they displayed renewed vigour in the closing stages as they went in search of an equaliser but they just failed to find a way through, allowing Albirex to hold out for the win.
Harimau Muda: Ramdhan Hamid (GK), Ashmawi Yakin, Wan Ahmad Amirzafran (C), Shahrul Igwan, Adam Nor (Irfan Zakaria 79'), Ridzuan Abdunloh, Syazwan Andik (Arif Anwar 75'), S. Kumaahran (Faizat Ghazli 46'), Asri Mardzuki, Annas Rahmat, Faris Shah.
Albirex Niigata (S): Yosuke Nozawa (GK), Mikiya Yamada, Takahiro Saito (C), Kento Fujihara, Itsuki Yamada, Hikaru Mizuno, Shun Inaba (Ryuki Matsuya 90'), Fumiya Kogure, Atsushi Kawata, Rion Taki (Rui Kumada 67'), Shotaro Ihata (Kento Nagasaki 61').