SINGAPORE - Albirex Niigata extended their lead at the top of the S-League table over closest rivals Tampines Rovers to seven points after beating Geylang International 2-0 at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday (May 20).

Despite the threat of league's leading goalscorer Atsushi Kawata, it was defender Naofumi Tanaka who got on the scoresheet first for the White Swans.

Towards the end of stoppage time in the first half, Tanaka beat the Geylang offside trap and headed in Shuto Inaba's cross to give Albirex the lead.

The White Swans sealed victory in stoppage time in the second half when midfielder Masaya Jitozono curled in from the edge of the box past Eagles custodian Syazwan Buhari.

The result sees Albirex top the nine-team table with 29 points as they chase a maiden S-League crown while Geylang sit in fourth on 18 points.

In the night's other match, seventh-placed Warriors played out a 1-1 draw with Balestier Khalsa at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.