Albirex Niigata (S) took one step closer to reaching the 2015 RHB Singapore Cup final after edging Filipino outfit Global FC 1-0 in the first leg of their semifinal clash on Friday evening.
Rion Taki's second-half strike was enough to separate the two sides at Clementi Stadium as the White Swans continued their march towards a possible Treble.
With the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) standing at 118 half an hour before kick-off, the thrice-rescheduled match was allowed to go on and Global took the initiative early on.
Mark Hartmann set up Misagh Bahadoran for a snapshot outside the area after just seven minutes in, but Albirex keeper Yosuke Nozawa was on hand to push the effort away.
The White Swans took their time to settle into the game and created a couple of opportunities midway through, but captain Hikaru Mizano and Fumiya Kogure were unable to convert from close range.
Albirex continued to dominate proceedings towards the end of the first half, but Taki volleyed just wide from Mikiya Yamada's cross and Kogure fired his free kick just wide of the left-hand post.
They carried on from where they left off after the break and duly broke the deadlock on 52 minutes.
Shotaro Ihata did well to hold off two defenders before releasing Taki, who raced through on goal and fired underneath the outstretched right arm of Global keeper Patrick Deyto to give his side the lead.
Global tried to muster a quick response thereafter but was unable to find a way past the solid Albirex centre-back partnership of Takahiro Saito and Kento Fujihara.
Instead it was Albirex who could have doubled their advantage on 75 minutes when Kogure played an intelligent one-two with Taki, but the former J-League midfielder's fierce drive was well parried by Deyto.
Global finally created a decent opening 12 minutes before the end when Bahadoran led a lightning-quick counterattack and squared a superb ball across goal, but Hartmann was unable to apply the finishing touch.
In the end the United Football League (UFL) outfit had to settle for the one-goal defeat, but coach Leigh Manson was confident of launching a comeback in the second leg.
"In the first round against Hougang and in the quarterfinals against Geylang, we were a goal down but we managed to come back," he said in a defiant manner.
"The tie is still fairly poised and this team has strong characters. With Daisuke Sato and Norio Suzuki returning from suspension, we should be stronger in the second leg."
The details for the second leg of this semi-final clash will be released by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) at a later date.
Global FC: Patrick Deyto (GK), Jerry Barbaso, Masaki Yanagawa, Amani Aguinaldo, Richard Jr. Talaroc, Mario Clarino (Paulo Salenga 46'), Yu Hoshide, Paolo Bugas (Dennis Villanueva 67'), Matthew Hartmann, Misagh Bahadoran (C), Mark Hartmann
Albirex Niigata (S): Yosuke Nozawa (GK), Mikiya Yamada, Takahiro Saito, Kento Fujihara, Itsuki Yamada, Hikaru Mizuno (C), Shun Inaba, Fumiya Kogure (Ryuki Matsuya 90'), Rion Taki, Shotaro Ihata (Hikaru Yanagawa 87'), Rui Kumada (Yusuke Mukai 65')