Month: November 2024
The Lion City Sailors will need to wait until their final group game in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two to secure their place in the knockout rounds.
This comes after a 4-2 defeat to Zhejiang Professional in front of 12,836 spectators at the Yellow Dragon Sports Center on Thursday (28 Nov) night, where the Chinese side staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to claim all three points.
Unfortunately, it was a repeat of the script from the Sailors’ previous game three weeks ago, where they also let a two-goal lead slip, as they fell to a 3-2 defeat against Persib Bandung at home.
But all is not lost for the Sailors. Thanks to their strong performances in the first three group games — two wins and a draw — they remain in control of their destiny as they prepare to host Port FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium in their final ACL Two group match next Thursday (5 December) night.
And that was exactly what Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković was keen to emphasise in the post-match press conference.
“The positive is that we are still in the tournament. We have one more game to go, and everything is still up for grabs, so we’re going to give it our all,” declared the Serb.
The Sailors started the game strongly and created their first good opportunity in the 14th minute when Toni Datković’s pass found Shawal Anuar after Zhejiang centre-back Yang Wang missed his interception, but goalkeeper Zhao Bo denied the Singapore international’s effort with a smart save with his legs.
At the other end of the pitch, the Sailors’ defence remained disciplined, with Zhejiang’s best opportunity coming on the half-hour mark through Gao Di’s rasping shot that clipped the top of the crossbar.
Just as it seemed the teams would head into the break level, Maxime Lestienne delivered a superb free-kick that Toni stretched to reach, prodding the ball past Zhao Bo to give the Sailors a 1-0 lead.
Reflecting on the Sailors’ first-half display, Ranko said, “I think we controlled the match in the first half. Of course, the opponents had much more ball possession, but we expected that. They are a very good team with a lot of quality players.”
In a bid to change things around, Zhejiang made a halftime substitution, bringing on Franko Andrijašević for Gao Di. It was a move that seemed to spark the home side into life, as they increased the tempo and pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
However, it was the Sailors who struck the next blow, doubling their lead in the 62nd minute when Song Uiyoung surged forward from midfield and unleashed a stunning long-range strike into the top corner.
The Singapore international had also scored from a similar range in the Sailors’ previous away match against Port in late October.
But just three minutes later, Zhejiang pulled a goal back with Andrijašević converting from the spot after Toni was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
The equaliser came shortly after, in the 69th minute, when Zhejiang substitute Sun Zheng’ao bundled the ball over the line following a scramble in the Sailors’ box.
It was a goal that left Ranko disappointed. “After a 2-0 lead, that’s when you need composure and control of the ball,” he explained. “I think we lost possession in our defensive third far too often and couldn’t win any second balls. Fatigue also seemed to play a role.”
At this point, the Sailors found themselves under relentless pressure, with Izwan Mahbud’s outstanding point-blank save in the 82nd minute keeping the scores level.
However, just five minutes later, Izwan was left helpless when substitute Wang Yudong cut the ball back to the energetic Jean Evrard Kouassi, whose first-time strike flew into the net, sending the home fans into raptures.
The 18-year-old Wang then sealed the win for the Green Giants in the 94th minute, connecting with a Li Tixiang through ball to secure the Chinese side’s second victory of the competition.
Having seen his side squander a two-goal lead for the second consecutive match, Ranko acknowledged that it is an issue he and his staff need to address.
“I have a feeling of déjà vu. Some things have been repeating from the last two matches,” he admitted. “We also had a 2-0 lead in our previous game, but we couldn’t hold onto it. That’s something we definitely need to work on.”
With three of Zhejiang’s substitutes finding the net, Ranko highlighted the difference in squad depth between the two teams as a key factor in the game.
“Let’s be honest and look at Zhejiang’s squad, including the players they have on the bench,” said Ranko. “With all due respect, I have four players on my bench who are just 16 or 17 years old. That’s a significant difference.
“The positive thing is that we’ve shown we can compete against this level of opponent.”
A fiercely contested ACL Two Group F is now set for a dramatic conclusion after David da Silva’s 95th-minute header secured a 2-2 draw for Persib away against Port in the night’s late kickoff.
The Thai side, who have already qualified for the knockout rounds, will travel to Singapore to face the Sailors in the final group game, while Persib will host Zhejiang in the corresponding fixture.
With just two points separating Persib in fourth from the Sailors in second, Ranko remains confident that his team’s fate is firmly in their hands.
He said, “There’s no need for complicated calculations — we have to win that game, and it’s at our home ground. Maybe that gives us a little advantage, and that’s great.”
Three weeks after a heartbreaking last-minute 3-2 defeat to Indonesia’s Persib Bandung, the Lion City Sailors return to AFC Champions League (ACL) Two action with a challenging away fixture against Chinese Super League (CSL) side Zhejiang Professional at the Yellow Dragon Sports Center in Hangzhou on Thursday (28 November) night.
A Zhejiang side in a desperate situation
The hosts will be eager to make a statement, as their ACL Two campaign so far has fallen short of expectations.
Placed in Group F alongside three Southeast Asian clubs, Zhejiang were widely regarded as favourites to secure a top-two finish and progress to the knockout stages. However, they currently find themselves at the bottom of the table with just three points from four matches.
Their campaign began with a 2-0 loss to the Sailors in Singapore in September. Although they bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Persib on Matchday Two, consecutive defeats home and away against Thailand’s Port FC have left their hopes hanging by a thread.
Nothing less than a win will keep their chances of progression alive, but their bid is hindered by the suspension of three players — including talismanic striker Leonardo, the second-highest scorer in the recently concluded 2024 CSL season with 21 goals from 29 matches.
On a brighter note, captain Franko Andrijašević is available for selection after recovering from the injury that ruled him out of the first encounter with the Sailors. The former Croatian international has scored in each of his last two appearances in all competitions.
At the pre-match press conference, Zhejiang head coach Jordi Vinyals emphasised the importance of the upcoming clash.
“Tomorrow night’s game means a lot to us because it’s our final home match of the group stage. It’s an AFC Champions League Two fixture, and we want to take all three points to secure progression to the next stage. We’ll show our determination and deliver a great performance for our fans,” he said.
“Of course, the Sailors have very strong foreign players and defend very well. We don’t want to see the kind of wrong judgments we experienced in the last game. We’ll try to make adjustments and capitalise on every chance to score.”
This has been a challenging year for Zhejiang, who finished seventh in the 16-team CSL — four places lower than their previous campaign — and suffered defeats in nearly half of their league matches (14 out of 30).
To make matters worse, they conceded 60 goals over the season, a tally exceeded only by last-placed and relegated Nantong Zhiyuan, who allowed 66. Their hopes of securing continental football next season now rest entirely on their ability to pull off something remarkable in ACL Two.
Reflecting on his team’s performance in the CSL this year, Vinyals said defiantly, “We believe we’ve improved this season compared to before. Obviously, we missed some key chances, but achieving a strong ranking was still a good outcome for us.
“In ACL Two, we faced many challenges but improved with every game. If we win tomorrow, it will be a great way to end the year.”
A battle against the crowd and the cold
Nonetheless, Zhejiang will be counting on their passionate home support to drive them to three crucial points. According to popular football stats website Transfermarkt, their home attendance in the recent 2024 CSL season averaged an impressive 19,805.
The strong support has carried over to their ACL Two campaign, with 23,931 fans turning up for their match against Persib on 3 October and 16,933 attending their clash with Port on 7 November at the Yellow Dragon Sports Center – numbers that are a clear testament to the unwavering loyalty of their fans.
“Obviously, there are a lot of fans coming to our matches. In fact, when we face difficult situations, they give us a lot of support and motivation to keep going,” said Zhejiang veteran winger Gu Bin.
“It’s our home court, and we’ll try our best to score and win the game for our fans, even though we know the opponents are a very strong team.”
Another advantage for the home side is their familiarity with the cold climate. Hangzhou, now in late autumn and transitioning to early winter, experiences average temperatures ranging from 14°C to 5°C — a stark contrast to Singapore’s tropical weather.
To help the players adapt to the chilly conditions, the Sailors have provided thermal innerwear and winter jackets, mirroring their preparations for last October’s clash against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Jeonju, South Korea.
Despite the challenging conditions, Sailors centre-back Toni Datković is confident in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion and deliver on Thursday night.
“As a European, I’m used to both winter and summer, so I’m happy to play in colder conditions because it’s easier to breathe,” said the former LaLiga 2 man, who played alongside Andrijašević in his solitary cap for the Croatia national team in 2017.
“That said, I know some of our local players may not be as acclimatised, but we are professionals, and we’ll give our all to represent the club in the best way possible here.
“For us and the entire team, this is a really important game — just like every other game in the group. We’ve already shown that we can beat them, and we’re determined to do it again and take one step closer to the knockout stages.”
Sailors still in a strong position
The Sailors’ loss to Persib three weeks ago was undoubtedly a setback, but they remain in a strong position to qualify for the knockout rounds, with their fate still firmly in their own hands.
With two matches remaining, the second-placed Sailors hold a three-point advantage over their nearest challengers, Persib. A positive result in Hangzhou, combined with a Port victory over Persib on the same night, would secure a historic qualification to the ACL Two’s last 16 for the Sailors.
Their cause is further strengthened by the return of Dutch midfielder Bart Ramselaar, who is back from a two-match suspension. He will team up with key players like Shawal Anuar and Maxime Lestienne as the Sailors remain focused on their mission to make Singapore football proud.
However, Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković acknowledged that they had faced several challenges in their preparation for the game, although he remains confident in his team’s readiness for the crucial clash.
“Our preparations haven’t been ideal. We’ve had some injury issues, and with the rainy season in Singapore, our pitches were completely under water a few times, so we had to improvise,” he explained. “Nonetheless, at this stage of the competition, we already know what we need to do.”
Ranko also discussed the Sailors’ tactics for the game, as he said, “The way we play sometimes depends on our opponents. It’s not just about transitions; we know when and how to execute in certain phases of the game.
“When we have the ball, the opponents are looking for the same answers. It’ll be a totally different game from the one in Singapore in terms of tactics.”
More than two weeks have passed, but Rui Pires still feels the sting of the Lion City Sailors’ 2-3 defeat to Persib Bandung in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two.
After all, by the 90th minute, the Sailors were leading 2-1 — a result that, as it turned out, would have been enough to send them into the next stage of the competition.
Instead, Persib staged a dramatic comeback with two late goals, sealing their victory and handing the Sailors their first defeat in ACL Two.
Rui, who started the game in midfield, admitted that the manner of the defeat was hard to take.
“It was difficult to sleep after that game against Persib… But this is football, and the good thing is that we still have two more games. For now, we’re in second position, and we still have a chance to progress,” said Rui.
“It was a loss that nobody expected, especially after the first half in which we completely controlled the game. Even in the second half, we were still in control and they didn’t create many chances.
“But in just five minutes, everything changed. One key lesson we took from that match is the need to stay focused for the full 95 to 100 minutes. This is an important lesson for us.”
Despite this defeat, the Sailors have enjoyed a successful ACL Two campaign so far, with impressive victories over China’s Zhejiang Professional and Thailand’s Port FC.
But these wins are not the Sailors’ first against highly regarded opponents in international competitions. Last season, they shocked Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-0 — a match in which Rui played the full 90 minutes — and also defeated Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC 2-1.
As the Sailors prepare to face Zhejiang and Port once more in their remaining ACL Two group stage fixtures, Rui believes the team can draw confidence from their strong performances on the continental stage to secure the results needed to advance to the knockout rounds.
“This is the Champions League. The level is, of course, higher, but we’ve already proven that we can compete with and beat any team in our group. We’re confident and have been training hard over the past two to three weeks.
“Now, we’re looking forward to the next two games,” said the Portuguese, who was named in the 2017 UEFA European U-19 Championship Team of the Tournament alongside Viktor Gyökeres, Mason Mount, and Diogo Dalot.
“Of course, the next game against Zhejiang is the most important for us, followed by the home match against Port. If we fight as a team, as we have in these two matches, we’ll let the results speak for themselves in the end.”
The Sailors will travel to Hangzhou this week to face a Zhejiang side currently at the bottom of the group with just three points.
The Green Giants recently finished 7th in the 2024 Chinese Super League season — a notable drop after securing third place in the two previous campaigns. Zhejiang are also winless in their last four matches across all competitions.
“Everyone believes in the team now because we’ve shown that we can play well and win. The atmosphere feels completely different — there’s a sense of confidence and expectation. In the past, maybe people thought it was more difficult. That belief is the most important thing for us,” said Rui.
The Sailors last featured in a Singapore Premier League (SPL) match on October 19, with the domestic league entering a break shortly after.
This hiatus has allowed the team to focus entirely on their continental objectives, but it also presents the challenge of maintaining match fitness without the rhythm of regular weekend games.
Rui, who missed the reverse fixture against Zhejiang, has been a key figure in the Sailors’ midfield. And the 26-year-old is eager to help the team bounce back from the heartbreak of their defeat to Persib.
“When you lose, you want to play again as soon as possible — if it were up to me, I’d play the very next day just to move on from the disappointment. But for us, over these three weeks, every night when I went to bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about that match,” shared the midfielder.
“We want to win every game, so losing in that manner was especially hard. We’ve analysed the match thoroughly and taken important lessons from the defeat.”
With no competitive action in recent weeks, the Sailors crossed the Causeway to face Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in their den on 16 November in an international club friendly.
The Sailors delivered a resilient performance despite missing eight players away on international duty, narrowly losing 1-0 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium against a team that regularly competes at the highest level of Asian club football, the ACL Elite.
“JDT are a strong team. They play in the ACL Elite and have many quality foreign players. But once again, we proved that we can compete against any opponent.
“Even the players who don’t get much game time showed that they’re ready whenever the coach needs them. It was a good friendly match for both teams in a fantastic stadium,” remarked Rui.
Now, though, the stage is set for the Sailors’ crucial penultimate fixture in the AFC Champions League Two against Zhejiang at the Yellow Dragon Sports Center — a venue that hosted FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in 2007.
Rui has urged his team to maintain their confidence and composure as they approach the critical stage of the competition.
He said, “We’re still in a good position. We’re second in the group, and the other teams would love to be where we are. We just need to believe in ourselves and replicate what we did in the previous matches.”
Five members of the Lion City Sailors’ 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) winning squad have been selected to represent the Singapore Women’s National Team at the upcoming ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Cup in Laos in late November.
Sailors Women’s vice-captain Syazwani Ruzi, along with Qarissa Putri, Natasha Naszri, Nurhidayu Naszri (pictured below), and attacker Cara Chang have been named in the 23-strong Lionesses squad for the newly introduced qualifying tournament for the ASEAN Women’s Championship, which is scheduled to take place in 2025.
Placed in Group A, Karim Bencherifa’s side will entertain Timor-Leste next Tuesday, 26 November before taking on hosts Laos three days later – with both matches to be played at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane.
The top two teams of the group will advance into the semi-finals. A third-place playoff and a final will follow on 5 December, with the eventual top three teams making it through to the tournament proper.
Two more finals.
That was the rallying cry from Lion City Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković to his players after their last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Indonesia’s Persib Bandung in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two on Thursday (7 November) night.
In front of a 3,152-strong crowd at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Ranko’s men were mere minutes away from making history and securing a spot in the ACL Two last-16.
However, two stoppage-time goals from Persib turned what initially seemed like a comfortable Sailors victory into a heartbreaking first ACL Two defeat for the hosts.
Group F’s other match also saw late drama, with Port FC clinching a 2-1 victory over Zhejiang Professional in China thanks to Felipe Amorim’s 90th-minute winner. The result pushed the Sailors down to second place in the group, though they remain three points ahead of third-placed Persib with two matches left to play.
This also means that Group F remains wide open, and all four teams can still qualify for the next round.
For Ranko, however, the equation is simple: Sailors must treat their remaining two Group F games as ‘finals’ and give everything to secure a place in the last 16.
“It’s an open group now — any of the four teams can progress to the knockout stage, so it’s going to be two finals for everyone,” Ranko said in his post-match press conference. “It’s a shame; had we won today, we’d already be through. But perhaps we’ll have to do it the hard way.”
However, the evening began swimmingly well for the Sailors, with the in-form Shawal Anuar giving the hosts the lead just nine minutes in.
Maxime’s brilliant long ball found the Singapore international, who took a touch to control it before expertly lobbing Kevin Ray Mendoza in the Persib goal, while the retreating Gustavo França could only watch in despair as the ball found its way into the net.
The Sailors doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Lionel Tan’s long throw-in was unwittingly flicked on to the back post by Persib defender Nick Kuipers, allowing Maxime Lestienne to get ahead of his marker and head the ball home.
This was Max’s first headed goal since joining the Sailors, with his last one coming for Standard Liege against KAS Eupen in the Belgian Pro League back in April 2021.
With a two-goal lead in hand, a confident Sailors side comfortably controlled the first half, and barely gave Persib a sniff at goal. The closest the visitors came to scoring was in the 26th minute, when Tyronne del Pino’s curler struck the crossbar.
Reflecting on his side’s dominant performance in the opening 45 minutes, Ranko said, “It was an excellent first half, and we should have finished the game. We played at home, so we wanted to attack quickly and make a statement with our actions, especially from our strikers. I think we played close to a perfect first half.”
The Sailors started the second half the same way they ended the first — on the front foot — and threatened the Persib goal through efforts from Shawal and Maxime. At the other end, Sailors goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud was called into action on the hour mark, tipping over Del Pino’s accurate strike.
Both teams made key changes in the 65th minute, with Sailors skipper Hariss Harun coming on for the home side, while Persib’s top scorer from last season, David da Silva, also joined the fray.
The Sailors came close to extending their lead and sealing the victory in the 79th minute when Christopher van Huizen delivered a pinpoint cross to Maxime, who directed a header towards goal, only for Persib centre-back França to make a superb clearance off the line.
That heroic piece of defending eventually proved to be more crucial than anyone could have anticipated.
Just three minutes later, the reigning Indonesian champions found their lifeline when centre-back Kuipers unleashed a long-range shot that struck the crossbar, and Da Silva reacted quickest to head in the rebound and pull a goal back for his side.
It was a goal that radically changed the complexion of the game, as Ranko explained: “I had a feeling they (Persib) gave up after 2-0, but we brought them back into the game with the 2-1 goal, so that’s on us.
“We need to be smarter. We need to keep the ball a little longer, not chase a third goal if it’s not on, and avoid giving the ball away too easily. That was the main message to the players, especially in the first half when we didn’t face much pressure from them.”
Indeed, the goal gave Persib the momentum they needed to press forward in the final minutes in search of an equaliser. And they thought they had found it in the 85th minute through Mailson Lima, but his strike was ruled out for a foul on Hafiz Nor.
With Port’s win over Zhejiang, the Sailors needed to secure a victory to guarantee qualification to the knockout rounds of the ACL Two.
Alas, it was not to be.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Croatian full-back Mateo Kocijan broke the hearts of the partisan crowd at Jalan Besar, as he unleashed a rocket into the net that Izwan could do nothing about and levelled it up at 2-2.
But worse was to come for the Singapore outfit, as just two minutes later, Del Pino broke free from the Sailors’ defence and kept his composure to score what proved to be the winner for Persib.
Despite the ‘cruel’ end to the game, Ranko struck an optimistic tone, insisting that his side has the quality to secure the necessary results in the remaining two group games and qualify for the next round of the ACL Two.
“In football, sometimes it can be very cruel, and out of nothing, you concede two goals. But it’s a tough pill to swallow,” the Serb admitted.
“However, we have to keep our heads up. This is part of the job, and we’ve shown we can compete with every opponent in this group. That’s exactly what we’ll continue to do. We have one more match at home.
“Today, luck turned its back on us. It’s a shame we had to lose this game, but that’s football.”
The Sailors now have a three-week break to regroup before travelling to China to face Zhejiang Professional on 28 November, a team they defeated 2-0 in the reverse fixture.
They will then wrap up the ACL Two group phase against Port a week later (5 December) at Jalan Besar Stadium, with that being the final match for the Sailors in 2024.
After two productive away trips that yielded four points, the Lion City Sailors return home to face reigning Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung in a crucial Group F Matchday Four tie, as they look to strengthen their bid to progress to the next round of the 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
The last time the Sailors played at home, they opened their campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over China’s Zhejiang Professional in September. However, they know this upcoming encounter against Persib will be anything but straightforward.
Win or bust for Persib
With Persib currently languishing at the bottom of Group F with one point from three matches – five adrift of second-placed Port FC, the Indonesian side knows they need nothing less than a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Persib’s only point so far came in a gritty 1-1 draw with the Sailors at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium two weeks ago, where they held on despite Dimas Drajad’s dismissal early in the second half.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Persib coach Bojan Hodak struck a defiant tone, and expressed confidence that his team is ready to make amends.
“This group is tough, and the other three teams are strong, the 53-year-old Croat said. “We were competitive in the first matches, but we were unlucky, which may have been due to inexperience.
“But with every game, we’re improving. Even in the last match (against the Sailors), I felt we were close to winning, but the red card made a difference, as we played with 10 men for half of the game. I hope tomorrow will be different, and that we can achieve a positive result.”
This time, the match will be played on the synthetic pitch of Jalan Besar Stadium — a slightly unfamiliar setting for Persib, but one they are determined to adapt to.
“To be honest, nobody likes playing on artificial pitches, but it’s something we can’t change,” said Hodak. “But we had a training session today, which should give the players enough time to adapt. They all have experience playing or training on artificial surfaces, but it’s definitely a disadvantage for teams outside of Singapore.”
Persib’s boost in personnel
While local star Drajad is set to miss out due to a three-match suspension following his dismissal against the Sailors, Persib will welcome prolific forward David da Silva back into the fold.
The 34-year-old Brazilian, who was last season’s Liga 1 top scorer with 30 goals in 34 matches, has joined Persib’s 20-man travelling squad after recovering from injury, and could feature for the Bandung outfit.
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Da Silva’s presence is a boost for an attack that has leaned heavily on compatriot Ciro Alves and Spanish playmaker Tyronne del Pino, who together have scored eight of Persib’s 18 league goals this season. Both players have been pivotal in Persib’s impressive start to the 2024/25 Liga 1 season; Hodak’s side remain the only unbeaten team after 10 matches and sit just one point off the top.
Persib were, however, frustrated in their most recent league outing last Friday (1 November), as they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-placed Semen Padang at home. And Hodak knows his team will have to step up their performance against a ‘dangerous’ Sailors side.
“The ACL Two is a different experience and a different level compared to the league,” said Hodak. “Unfortunately, our league schedule doesn’t help us, so we haven’t been able to field our best team. We’ve had to rotate players, and we’ve also had to deal with injuries and other issues.
“The Sailors have a very dangerous counterattack, with players like Maxime Lestienne, who have exceptional individual quality. They’re very disciplined and wait for the opponent to make mistakes.
“But I’m confident that if we play them with 11 men on the pitch, we can win this game.”
Brazilian defender Gustavo França, who joined the club from Portuguese second-division club C.D. Tondela in the off-season, added, “I’m sure it will be a tough game, especially since they (Sailors) have a good team. But I think we’re heading in the right direction, and our team is strong enough to perform well and get a positive result.”
Opportunity for Sailors to make history
Meanwhile, the mood in the Sailors camp is buoyant following a brilliant 3-1 away win against Port, which has put them at the top of Group F with seven points at the halfway stage of the Group Stage.
As such, the Sailors are in an excellent position to qualify for the ACL Two Round of 16 for the first time in the club’s history. A win against Persib, combined with a Port victory away against third-placed Zhejiang, would secure the Sailors’ place in the knockout stages with two games to spare.
Nonetheless Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković remains focused on the immediate task: to beat Persib and give the home fans another memorable night.
Under the Serb’s leadership, the Sailors have already defied expectations with home victories over South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Chinese opposition in successive years.
“Obviously the Port win gives the team a lot of confidence, but I have to say we didn’t lack any confidence even before that, and this group has shown that they have the resilience to cope with tough times,” said the former ADO Den Haag man.
“There’s a good atmosphere within this team and we want to continue this good start. We’ll have our fans behind us again, and we really love the crowd whenever we host continental matches. I hope the fans will come and fill up the stadium because it’ll be a huge boost for our players.
“If there’s a moment to fill up the stadium, this is it. I hope they will all come, as we want to achieve something historical for them.”
Dutch midfielder Bart Ramselaar will miss out as he serves the final match of his two-game suspension, but the Sailors still have ample quality in their ranks to trouble Persib, including the likes of Maxime Lestienne, Shawal Anuar, and Lennart Thy. The latter is especially eager to make his mark as he eyes his first continental goal for the Sailors.
“After what we did so far in this group, we’re all excited to play tomorrow — especially in front of our home crowd,” said Lennart, who represented Werder Bremen in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League.
“I had a good feeling from the first game when we defeated Zhejiang at home. We showed our level, we were compact and did what was asked of us. Everyone, including myself, is really looking forward to this game and I hope we can bring everything onto the pitch, just like what we did in the past few matches.”
Eight Lion City Sailors players have been called up to Tsutomu Ogura’s 26-strong Singapore National Team squad that will face Myanmar and Chinese Taipei in ‘A’ International Friendlies during the upcoming November international window.
Lions captain Hariss Harun, along with Hami Syahin, Abdul Rasaq Akeem, M. Anumanthan, and custodian Izwan Mahbud, have retained their places in the squad after participating in the October training camp in Japan, where the squad faced J1 League clubs such as FC Tokyo, Tokyo Verdy, and Yokohama F. Marinos in friendly matches.
Meanwhile, Christopher van Huizen, Lionel Tan (pictured above), and Shawal Anuar have been recalled following impressive performances in the Sailors’ ongoing Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two campaign.
The Sailors currently lead Group F in the ACL Two, ahead of Thailand’s Port FC, China’s Zhejiang Professional, and Indonesia’s Persib Bandung.
Shawal is set to make his first Lions appearance in eight months, with his last international outing being Singapore’s 4-1 defeat to China in a FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Round 2 qualifier in March.
The 33-year-old has netted 11 goals in 35 Lions appearances since making his national team debut in 2016.
The Lions will take on Myanmar on Thursday, 14 November, before facing Chinese Taipei four days later, with both matches scheduled to take place at the National Stadium.
As the ball looped over Port FC goalkeeper Worawut Srisupha, making it 3-1 to the Lion City Sailors, Song Uiyoung could not contain his joy.
Wheeling away in celebration, he instinctively slid on his knees and let out a passionate scream on the pristine grass at BG Stadium – raw emotions that have rarely been seen since his return to the Sailors in March.
This marked Song’s fifth goal since rejoining the Sailors, and it was undoubtedly his most memorable yet, as it helped his side secure a historic Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two win over one of the top teams in Thai League 1.
Recalling that moment, Song said, “We were under pressure at 2-1, and Port kept attacking. I was thinking, we need one more goal to close out the game. That’s why I was so motivated to score.
“When Shawal (Anuar) gave me the ball, I knew it was the chance… I had to wait a few seconds to see if the ball went in, and that goal was such a release of all the tension on the field. That’s why I celebrated the way I did, and it was important because the game changed entirely after that.”
The outpouring of emotion made for some brilliant visuals, with Song admitting he’s replayed the moment more than a few times.
“I saw the videos and photos… they really captured the emotions perfectly, and I’m very grateful to the photographers who took such great shots. It’s a special memory,” said Song, who was one of the Sailors’ standout players in their maiden ACL journey back in 2022.
Song’s tally of three goals then helped the Sailors achieve a record-breaking seven points — the highest-ever tally for a Singaporean club in the ACL group stage.
This time, the Sailors’ determination and unwavering commitment to showcase the best of Singapore football have taken them to the top of Group F — above teams from Thailand, China, and Indonesia — at the halfway point, with seven points from three matches.
“I don’t know what others feel, but within the team, we have a very strong mindset,” Song remarked. “We know we can challenge the best and compete at this level, even against some very strong teams.
“The ACL Two is a bigger stage with higher pressure, but it also brings greater motivation, and we’re embracing the opportunity to compete. We love the tempo and quality of these matches — it brings out the best in everyone on the team.”
While the Sailors are often feted for their roster of established European players, Song noted that it is important to recognise the equally vital contributions of the team’s local core, which includes the likes of Shawal (pictured above), Christopher van Huizen, and Hami Syahin.
“It’s a team effort, and I know the local players here are all of high quality. I’m happy to see them performing and proving they are big players who belong on this stage,” said Song, who has earned 25 caps for Singapore.
The Sailors will next host Indonesia Liga 1 side Persib Bandung on Matchday Four at Jalan Besar Stadium this Thursday (7 November), where a win would put them one step closer to securing a spot in the ACL Two Round of 16.
The visitors have only one point from three matches, gained from the 1-1 draw when the two sides last met at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium a fortnight ago.
While the Sailors stand on the brink of making history, Song has urged his teammates to stay grounded and avoid getting ahead of themselves.
“Yes, we’ve achieved good results so far, but that shouldn’t change our mindset. We need to keep focusing on every training session and match, rather than looking too far ahead,” said Song, who will celebrate his 31st birthday after the game (8 November).
“Creating history for the club would be incredibly meaningful, but it’s essential to recognise the importance of continuing to work together and putting in the effort that has brought us this far. If we stay focused, the results will follow.
“Persib are a very strong team; they’re performing well in the Indonesian league and play with a clear identity, so it’s going to be an intense match — and we need to be ready for the fight.”
Community, Excellence, Discipline, Commitment and Humility – these are the five values of the Lion City Sailors FC and they were all on display by the Sailors Academy’s Under-14 Elite team at the recently concluded Asiana Cup 2024.
The Under-14 boys impressed, finishing fourth in the prestigious tournament which was held from October 24 to 27 at the Gelora Bung Karno Madya Stadium and the Senayan Field in Jakarta, Indonesia.
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The eight-team cast consisted of the Sailors, hosts Asiana Soccer School, RC Alcobendas from Spain, Japan’s Cerezo Osaka, Cruzeiro Academy of Thailand, Football West from Australia, Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and another Indonesian side TSI Selection.
The Sailors boys kicked off with a match against TSI Selection on Thursday (October 24) and it was not the best of starts as they began with a defeat. However, under the tutelage of Head Coach Ashraf Ariffin, the team turned things around later in the day with a convincing victory against Cruzeiro Thailand.
The following day on Friday (October 25) it was a similar start as the Sailors succumbed to a loss at the hands of Cerezo Osaka despite leading at half-time against the eventual champions.
But it was déjà vu as they again showed their true mettle later in the day with an eye-catching success against Madrid-based RC Alcobendas.
RC Alcobendas had three Singaporean Unleash The Roar (UTR) players in their ranks, but were undone by the Lion City Sailors Football Academy (LCSFA) which notably competed in the Asiana Cup with eight players who were born in the year 2011, meaning they were younger than the stipulated U14 teams allowed for this competition which speaks volumes about the LCSFA’s level of commitment and growth at grassroots level.
“We are proud of how our boys responded to the different challenges in different matches. We knew coming into the tournament that it would be a highly competitive one and we prepared the team in different scenarios and approaches without compromising our academy principles and playing style,” said Head Coach Ashraf.
“Our players have shown that they can compete with the best in the region and they have also shown that they have the intelligence to adapt to different opponents.”
The youthful exuberance of the boys were on full display on Day Three as the Sailors first played out an entertaining draw against home side Asiana in the morning followed by holding Malaysian powerhouse JDT in the afternoon.
On the final day, the Sailors faced Australia’s Football West to determine which team would finish in the top four and it was a dramatic ending, as Tan Yu Bin’s stoppage-time winner guided the Singaporean boys to an outstanding win with the youngsters showing real grit and determination to come back from a goal down.
The three points on the day took the Sailors up to 11 points with three wins and two draws in seven matches as the rising stars went on to secure a fourth-place finish in the standings, five points ahead of strong teams such as Football West and JDT.
Homegrown talent Ahmad Izzan Rifqi Bin Ahmad had a tournament to remember picking up the Top Scorer award at Asiana Cup 2024 having netted seven goals, with his fine displays earning him a place in the tournament’s Best Eleven.
“It means a lot to me to be the top goalscorer of a tournament like this! It was my goal to be the top scorer and I worked hard for this moment. And it became true. Thanks to the coaches for teaching me what a striker’s mindset should be like,” said Izzan.
Earlier this year, the Sailors’ youth teams had ventured into Europe to gain valuable experience in world-class surroundings with those initiatives certainly paying dividends.
In April, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recognised the efforts of the LCSFA to develop elite youth footballers in Singapore and was conferred the Two-Star Academy status — becoming only the fourth academy in Southeast Asia to receive Two-Star grading.
The impressive performance at Asiana Cup 2024 further highlights the immense potential of Singapore football and the holistic development of the youth players, as the Lion City Sailors continue their quest to become the region’s finest football academy and the man at the helm of the U-14 side Ashraf spoke about that factor.
“The future is the foundation we build now. Our scholars performed well at the Asiana Cup because of the foundation we laid four years ago,” quipped Ashraf.
“At LCSFA, we have shown that with the correct coaches and the correct expertise around our talent pool, we can take a lot of positive steps in the future.”
