Month: April 2025
There is one date that Lennart Thy will never forget: 18 May 2009.
Representing Germany in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final, a 17-year-old Lennart pounced on a loose ball in the 34th minute to score a crucial equaliser against the Netherlands. His goal proved decisive, as the Germans went on to triumph 2-1 in extra time in front of a 24,000-strong crowd – securing the first, and so far only, major title of Lennart’s career.
“I still have the good memories from that day in my mind,” recalled the 33-year-old. “Scoring in the final was such an emotional moment. I remember standing on the bench after I got substituted, anxiously waiting for the final whistle. Running onto the pitch to celebrate with my teammates still gives me goosebumps even today.”
Sixteen years on from that night, Lennart finds himself on the cusp of another golden opportunity – with him and the Sailors still in the hunt for silverware on three fronts, both domestically and continentally.
“I’ve not been blessed with many titles in my career, so I’m hungrier than ever to win everything we’re competing for this season,” he said. “We’re in a strong position, but it’s important we stay humble and take it one game at a time. If we stay focused, I’m confident we can achieve something special by the end of the season.”
Two draws in their past three league matches may have cast a small shadow of doubt over the Sailors’ title hopes, especially with BG Tampines Rovers hot on their heels. But the league leaders quickly responded with a commanding 2-0 victory over reigning champions Albirex Niigata (S) on Friday to open up an eight-point lead at the top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) table.
Lennart delivered another trademark hardworking performance, with his link-up play and relentless pressing causing constant problems for the Swans’ backline. The German was unlucky not to find the net, as he failed to convert the opportunities that came his way on the night.
“I want to score every time I step onto the pitch, so it was frustrating not to finish the chances I had,” said the Sailors’ top scorer. “But games like these happen, and what matters most now is picking up the three points to bring us closer to the league title. We showed plenty of intensity and patience against a tough opponent, and this win will give us a lot of confidence moving forward.”
Now turning his attention to the Sailors’ next league assignment against the Young Lions on Wednesday (30 April), Lennart is determined to maintain the winning mentality that has been instilled within the team – even with their upcoming opponents winless in their last five SPL matches.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge ahead because we know the Young Lions can be a dangerous side,” said Lennart. “We approach every game wanting to win, so we must stay sharp and focused to build the momentum we need heading into the final stretch of the season.”
Nearly a year on from signing with the Sailors in May 2024, Lennart is now fully settled into life both on and off the pitch in Singapore – a smooth transition that is reflected in his performances, with the forward having already racked up 33 goals and six assists in all competitions this season.
“Life has been great for me,” he shared. “I needed a bit of time to adapt at the start, but I’ve shown that I can be an important player for the team. Working with this group has been enjoyable – the dynamic is good, and we always know when it’s time to have fun or time to be serious.”
As a family-oriented individual, a major part of Lennart’s comfort and success in Singapore has been down to the happiness of his wife and two young children.
“When my family is happy, I’m happy too,” said Lennart. “Moving to Singapore wasn’t a decision I made alone – it was one we made together as a family. Singapore is a beautiful country with so much to offer, so the mood at home is very positive. Knowing that my family is doing well helps me feel more relaxed, and that gives me a huge boost on the pitch.”
Having set his sights on helping the club achieve its ambition of becoming one of Asia’s elite from day one, Lennart pointed to the significant progress the Sailors have made in what is shaping up to be a historic season for the club.
“Everything about the Sailors was already very professional when I first arrived, but it’s clear that the club is committed to continuous improvement,” said Lennart. “Whether it’s fan engagement, media presence, attendance, or results, everything is moving in the right direction – and I believe this is just the beginning of even greater things to come.”
The Lion City Sailors extended their lead at the top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) standings to eight points with a straightforward 2-0 victory over Albirex Niigata (S) at Our Tampines Hub (OTH) on Friday, 25 April.
Goals in each half from Toni Datković and Shawal Anuar sealed the win for Aleksandar Ranković’s men against an Albirex side now winless in seven matches across all competitions.
“I’m very satisfied with the performance tonight – it’s 2-0, a clean sheet, and three points, that’s all that matters,” said Ranko. “We were the team mostly in the ascendancy, and it could’ve been more had we converted a couple more chances.”
The Sailors came into this match riding the high of reaching the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two final, becoming the first Singaporean club to qualify for a continental final.
Following a 30-minute delay due to the Lightning Warning System (LWS), the Sailors started strongly as Lennart Thy found himself through on goal and rounded Hassan Sunny in the 10th minute, but could only find the side netting.
Bart Ramselaar then had a couple of shots off target as the Sailors sought to gain a firm foothold in the match.
The breakthrough arrived in the 25th minute — and it was no surprise that Diogo Costa played a part. Moments after forcing a brilliant save from Hassan, the Portuguese full-back delivered a dangerous ball into the box from a corner routine, which Toni met with a thumping header for his fourth league goal of the season.
Albirex looked for a response after going behind, with Daniel Goh testing Izwan Mahbud, but it was a comfortable save for the Sailors’ custodian.
Goh did find the back of the net in the 38th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Despite Albirex’s pressure towards the end of the half, the Sailors headed into the break with the lead firmly intact.
“When you come out to play matches like this — especially after the Champions League nights, and with the travel, the mental and physical side of things involved — to recharge every time is not easy,” said Ranko.
“I’m very proud of my boys. They do this week in and week out, and as a former player, I know just how hard it is to maintain that.”
The Sailors gradually upped the tempo of their attacks in the second half, with Maxime going close with a curling effort that was deflected away by Syahrul Sazali.
From the resulting corner, Lennart struck the post in the 61st minute as the Sailors’ search for a second goal continued.
That search ended in the 78th minute, courtesy of substitute Shawal Anuar, who shimmied inside the box and, after seeing his first effort saved by Hassan, kept his composure to slot home at the second attempt to give the Sailors some much-needed breathing space.
Albirex had Hassan to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable, with the former Sailors custodian producing smart saves to deny a Bart Ramselaar free-kick and a late effort from Abdul Rasaq Akeem, as the Sailors comfortably saw out the game with their two-goal lead intact.
The win marked a successful return to OTH in the SPL for the Sailors — their first appearance there since 2023, when Maxime memorably netted a first-half hat-trick at the same venue.
And while he did not get on the scoresheet this time around, Maxime’s strong influence and hard running throughout the game saw him named Man of the Match.
Speaking post-match, the Belgian said, “All the players are happy tonight. We’re in a good position now. It’s been a long time since I scored, but I don’t care — whenever we win, I’m happy.”
The Sailors’ healthy eight-point lead over title challengers BG Tampines Rovers puts Ranko’s side in a strong position heading into the final five league fixtures.
While three more wins would mathematically secure the SPL title, Ranko is not getting ahead of himself just yet.
“We will secure the SPL title whenever it happens. We’re not really calculating when — we’ll go match by match and see what happens in the end,” he said.
Next up for the Sailors is a midweek clash against Young Lions on Wednesday, 30 April, at the same venue — with the developmental side on course to avoid finishing bottom of the table for the first time since 2020.
At this stage of the season, three points are all that matters, and Ranko’s charges will once again approach the upcoming fixture with the same gusto.
“We look forward to every match — we just love playing,” said Ranko. “We’ve played close to 50 matches across all competitions this season, so at this point you can say we love playing more than training!”
Fresh off their historic qualification for the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two final, Lion City Sailors captain Hariss Harun is turning his attention back to domestic duties – with a crucial stretch of Singapore Premier League (SPL) matches on the horizon.
The Sailors made headlines across the continent after edging out Sydney FC 2-1 on aggregate to book their spot in the ACL Two final – a landmark achievement for Singapore football. Despite falling 1-0 in the second leg at the Allianz Stadium, a gritty defensive performance ensured Aleksandar Ranković’s side held on to the two-goal lead established in the first leg at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Reflecting on the Sailors’ continental journey, Hariss said, “To be able to reach the ACL Two Final is a big morale boost for us for the rest of the campaign. We’ve really fought hard to stay united and push as one throughout this campaign. That gives us a lot of heart moving forward. But now, we have to shift our focus back to the league.”
One player who has been pivotal in the Sailors’ strong campaign is goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, who recently became the latest player to notch 50 appearances for the club.
The veteran custodian has kept 13 clean sheets in all competitions this season, including a crucial one in the first leg of the ACL Two semi-final, and produced a string of key saves in the return leg in Australia to keep Sydney at bay.
“He gives us a lot of confidence from the back with his commanding presence and his comfort on the ball,” said Hariss of his longtime teammate. “He’s done his part really well – just as we’ve come to expect of him.”
“Izwan’s my roommate when we travel, so we often talk about the game and what we can improve. While we’re generally happy with our performances, we’re always trying to see how we can help the team even more. That’s the kind of mindset we want.”
The focus now shifts sharply back to the SPL, with the Sailors set to play five league matches before turning their attention to the ACL Two final. With a five-point lead at the summit of the table, and holding a game in hand over title challengers BG Tampines Rovers, the Sailors could potentially seal the title before the two sides face off on the final matchday.
But even as the SPL season enters its final lap, Hariss is well aware that the Sailors cannot afford any missteps that could jeopardise their chances of reclaiming the league title.
“It’s the final run of games and we know what we need to do,” he stressed. “We need to refocus on the SPL title challenge because that is the priority right now. We’ve not won the league for some time, and in the past few seasons, we were in good positions but didn’t manage to see it through.
“This time, we can take lessons from those experiences and maintain our focus. We’re in a good position with a healthy lead, so we’ve got to do everything we can to keep or even extend that lead – and bring the title back home.”
The Sailors’ pivotal stretch in the SPL begins with a tricky encounter against Albirex Niigata (S) on Friday, April 25. While the defending champions are enduring a turbulent campaign – currently sitting fourth in the table and winless in their last six matches across all competitions – Hariss is not taking anything for granted.
“We have to go out there and give it our all and try to get all three points,” he asserted. “We’re not reading too much into their winless streak because they’ve always given us tough games over the past couple of seasons.
“We’ve already lost to them once this season, so we know what they’re capable of. It’s important that we focus on ourselves, put in a performance, and get the job done.”
In an interesting development, the venue for the upcoming fixture has been shifted to Our Tampines Hub (OTH) due to preparations for the upcoming Singapore General Election.
This marks the Sailors’ first SPL fixture at the 5,000-capacity stadium since August 2023, when they played out a pulsating 5-2 victory over BG Tampines – a game fondly remembered for Maxime Lestienne’s first-half hat-trick.
“We’ve had some good games against BG Tampines at OTH – we’ve scored quite a few goals there,” Hariss recalled. “Those are nice memories. We’ve been told that our next few matches will be played there, so it’s something we’re looking forward to.
“I’ve also heard the pitch has been retouched and it’ll be a new surface. So I’m really looking forward to playing on a good-quality pitch – and hopefully, we can match that by putting in some quality football as well.”
With a packed fixture list across three major competitions, the Sailors remain in contention for a historic treble – a feat that would mark an unprecedented milestone for the club.
In addition to their ongoing SPL title push and the upcoming ACL Two final, the Sailors are also set to face Brunei DPMM in a two-legged Singapore Cup semi-final next month.
But for now, Hariss is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“Right now, even talking about it – the treble possibilities – it means a lot,” admitted the 34-year-old. “But I don’t want to get too carried away because there are still a lot of games to play.
“I think the most important thing is that as a team, we stay fit and continue our good form. We need to have a razor-sharp focus. We’ve built up good momentum, and now we need to maintain that right through to the end of the season.”
We are pleased to share that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has granted us provisional approval to host the upcoming AFC Champions League Two Final against Sharjah FC at the Bishan Stadium. This is subject to final inspection and formal approval by AFC in early May.
Over the next few weeks, the club will be working closely with Sport Singapore, the Football Association of Singapore and sports industry experts to make the necessary upgrades and preparations to ensure the venue is match-ready for the big night on 18 May.
Kickoff time is set for 8.00pm SGT, with ticketing details for the game to be announced in due course.
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a commanding 9-2 victory over BG Tampines Rovers at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Saturday night (19 April).
Newly-promoted Putri Alyiah Seow stole the show with a stunning four-goal haul, while Sarah Zu’risqha notched a hat-trick of her own. Last season’s top scorer Raeka Ee and former Stag Anaya Sehgal also got on the scoresheet as Daniel Ong’s charges bounced back in style from last week’s frustrating goalless draw against Hougang United.
Crucially, the win keeps the Sailors top of the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) standings with 10 points from four matches. Their closest challengers, Still Aerion WFC, trail by three points but have a game in hand.
Speaking after the game, Head Coach Daniel Ong expressed satisfaction with his team’s response, while acknowledging that there is still work to be done – particularly in defence.
“It was definitely a concern to fire blanks in the last game, but tonight the girls showed that they wanted it more – they were hungrier and more aggressive, which was great to see,” said Ong. “That desire was something we lacked previously, so I’m happy with how they bounced back.”
He added, “Defensively, we still need to improve. Sometimes it’s just about keeping things simple and being more aware of what’s happening around us – that’s something our defenders will continue to work on.”
However, the Sailors got off to a rough start as they fell behind just four minutes in, when BG Tampines’ Mio Irisawa swung in a corner which Anna Seng diverted in at the near post.
But the reigning WPL champions responded to that early setback immediately. Dhaniyah Qasimah twice went close, before the breakthrough came in the 22nd minute through Alyiah, who coolly converted a square pass from Raeka to draw the Sailors level.
Alyiah was back on the scoresheet just six minutes later, as she pounced on a miscue by BG Tampines goalkeeper Nur Atiqah Salihin to roll the ball into an unguarded net and give the Sailors a 2-1 lead.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Sailors wrestled back control and struck twice more before the break. First, full-back Khairunnisa Anwar charged down the flank and squared across goal for Sarah to tap home in the 43rd minute. Barely a few minutes later, Sarah made it 4-1 with a sharp first-time finish off Nurhidayu Naszri’s lay-off.
Dorcas Chu was then introduced for Dhaniyah at the start of the second half – her first appearance of the season – as the Sailors continued to ramp up the pressure on BG Tampines.
It did not take long for the Sailors to strike again in the second half, with Sarah completing her hat-trick in the 54th minute.
BG Tampines did pull a goal back through Australian forward Ruby Alexandra Brooks, just four minutes later, but that ultimately proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal for the Stags.
Raeka got in on the action in the 66th minute, poking home into an empty net after her initial effort was blocked by Atiqah to make it 6-2 to the Sailors.
The Sailors’ No. 9 then turned provider with two superb channel runs in the 70th and 80th minutes, setting up Alyiah for a pair of emphatic finishes to round off her four-goal haul.
Incredibly, there was still time for a ninth goal. This time, it was Alyiah’s turn to assist, as she cut the ball back across goal for substitute Anaya to fire home against her former club in the 87th minute.
While Alyiah stole the spotlight with her four-goal haul – taking her to the top of the Sailors’ scoring charts with five goals – the 21-year-old was quick to play down her individual exploits and instead turned the focus on the team’s collective display.
“Scoring four goals makes me feel very good, but a lot of those goals were really team goals – crosses coming in, me making the runs and just being there to finish. It’s truly a team effort,” she said.
“I’m really glad that the other attackers and I share similar mindsets and playing styles. We’re able to read each other’s movements, play the pass even before the run is made – it’s just easy to play with them. I’m grateful to be part of this team.”
Reflecting on the early setback in the match, she added, “Obviously it was a rough start for us, and maybe we were a bit complacent – that’s something we’ll need to work on in training. But we showed that we can come back from a goal down, keep pushing, and be aggressive.”
With the matches against Tiong Bahru and Still Aerion postponed till further notice, the Sailors will only return to WPL action in three weeks’ time as they take on Geylang International on 10 May.
Lion City Sailors FC is working closely with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Sport Singapore, and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on the venue arrangements for the AFC Champions League Two Final.
We want to state our position clearly: this final must be played in Singapore. This is our home, and as the club that has earned the right to host the final, we believe it is only fair and proper that it takes place on Singaporean soil.
Jalan Besar Stadium has been a certified AFC Champions League Two venue that meets AFC’s regulations and requirements throughout the competition, successfully hosting six home matches in this tournament alone. It has a proud history of staging major football matches and has more than proven itself as a capable and reliable venue.
We are grateful for the strong backing of Sport Singapore and FAS, who have shown clear intent and commitment to bringing this final to life here in Singapore. Together, we have a shared ambition to showcase our nation’s ability to stage world-class football events.
We are excited about the significance of this final—not just for our club, but for Singapore football. We are committed to working closely with all stakeholders to deliver a memorable and professionally-run final that reflects the passion and potential of our football community.
Hosting the final in Singapore would not only be a just conclusion to our Champions League Two campaign, but a proud moment for Singapore football on the continental stage.
In the spirit of fairness and consistency, we urge the AFC to allow us to play this historic match at home. We believe that hosting such a high-stakes match on home soil can serve as a much-needed catalyst to uplift the local football scene and reignite national pride in the sport.
As the final whistle echoed around Choa Chu Kang Stadium last Sunday (13 April), the look of disappointment etched on the faces of the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team was plain for all to see.
After all, despite dictating the tempo from start to finish, they had been held to a goalless draw by a resolute Hougang United side that stood firm against relentless pressure.
Granted, the Sailors had their chances – including a late penalty that was squandered and a goal chalked off for offside – but they were ultimately left to rue their missed opportunities. And while the point was enough to keep them atop the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) standings, the reigning three-time champions made no attempt to hide their frustration.
Midfielder Ho Hui Xin summed up the mood in the Sailors’ camp, admitting that the stalemate felt more like a defeat.
“Even though we drew the game, it still felt like a loss,” said the 32-year-old. “We really tried to break through their low block, but as the minutes wore on, I think we got a little too eager and couldn’t find the breakthrough.”
Recognising the tactical challenges that lie ahead, Hui Xin also stressed the importance of taking lessons from matches like these – especially with more sides expected to adopt similar defensive approaches against the Sailors.
“The positive thing is that this happened early in the season,” she pointed out. “We can now bring this back to training, work on the solutions, and be better prepared the next time we face a team that sets up like this. Everyone – even those on the bench – needs to understand what to do when we take to the field.”
Hui Xin found herself in a slightly different role that evening – instead of her usual spot in midfield, she was deployed at the heart of defence by Head Coach Daniel Ong. But the experienced campaigner took the change in her stride, and insisted that she is always ready to step in wherever the team needs her most.
“It’s different from where I played last season, but it’s not a position I’m unfamiliar with,” said Hui Xin. “I’m happy to play wherever I can help the team. Having already featured as both a full-back and centre-back this season, I believe my positional awareness will only get better with more training and match exposure.”
Having begun her football journey back in 2009 as a student at Victoria Junior College, Hui Xin now brings over a decade of experience to the Sailors. As the most senior player in the squad, she is determined to uphold the high standards the team has built over the past few seasons.
“There’s a strong winning mentality here at the Sailors – we push each other hard in training to achieve the results we want on gameday,” she explained. “That competitiveness runs through the whole squad because no one’s place is ever guaranteed.
“Equally important is open and constructive communication – that’s the kind of culture we’re building at the Sailors, where everyone is committed to growing and getting better together.”
Eager to bounce back from that blip on the road, Hui Xin is eyeing redemption as she and the Sailors shift their focus to their upcoming league clash on Saturday (19 May) against BG Tampines Rovers – a side that has recorded one draw and a loss in their opening two fixtures.
The Sailors’ preparations are already in full swing, with the team returning to their Mattar Road training facility less than 24 hours after the draw with Hougang to kickstart their recovery programme.
“The result against Hougang was a wake-up call for all of us,” Hui Xin declared. “The work starts now, because every game matters if we want to retain the title. We have to shift our mindset and figure out what’s needed to get the win – especially when it comes to converting the chances we create.”
“I know we have that in us, so I’m confident we’ll bounce back immediately.”
There are changes to four of Lion City Sailors’ upcoming domestic matches, as confirmed earlier this evening (17 April) by the Football Association of Singapore.
Originally slated for 22 April, our Singapore Cup semi-final first leg against Brunei DPMM has been shifted to take place on 21 May. Kickoff remains 7.45pm at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The Sailors’ Singapore Premier League (SPL) fixtures against Albirex Niigata (S) and Young Lions on 25 and 30 April will now be held at Our Tampines Hub (OTH), due to the potential closure of Jurong East Stadium and Bishan Stadium in preparation for the upcoming Singapore General Election. Kickoff for both matches remain at 7.45pm.
Meanwhile, the SPL home game against Geylang International has been shifted a day later to 4 May due to a clash with the Polling Day. The match will take place at OTH, with kickoff remaining unchanged at 6.00pm.
The Sailors’ updated fixtures list can be accessed here.
The Lion City Sailors made history once again on Wednesday (16 April) night, as they became the first and only Singaporean club to reach the final of a major Asian club competition.
Despite a 1-0 defeat to Sydney FC at the Allianz Stadium, the Sailors held firm to book their spot in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two final with a 2-1 aggregate victory in the semi-finals.
It was, however, far from a straightforward evening for the Sailors, who had made the arduous 6,300-kilometre journey Down Under carrying a two-goal cushion from last week’s 2-0 first-leg win at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković made two changes to his starting eleven from a week ago – both down the right flank – with Maxime Lestienne and Hami Syahin replacing Shawal Anuar and Christopher van Huizen.
That proved a shrewd move, with Maxime immediately making his presence felt in a bright Sailors start. Played through by Bart Ramselaar in the sixth minute, the Belgian winger had a clear sight of goal, but his tame effort was comfortably collected by Harrison Devenish-Meares.
It was a clear sign that the visitors were not content to merely sit back and defend their two-goal lead, and were intent on catching Sydney on the counter whenever the opportunity arose.
“We knew we were going to be under a lot of pressure. Sydney had to throw everything at us,” said Ranko. “But I think we did a really good job. They had their chances, but honestly, we had a few good ones of our own that could’ve killed the tie.”
The hosts’ first clear chance came in the 10th minute, when Anthony Caceres’ snapshot from a tight angle forced a sharp save from Izwan Mahbud. From the resulting corner, Jordan Courtney-Perkins found the back of the net, but Sydney’s celebrations were cut short after a VAR review ruled the goal out.
As the rain began to pour, the Sailors had another opportunity just past the half-hour mark. This time, Lennart Thy rose to meet a cross, but his header was comfortably gathered by Devenish-Meares.
Both sides knew exactly what was at stake, and it showed in the fierce one-on-one duel between Sydney’s marquee man Douglas Costa and the Sailors’ Portuguese full-back Diogo Costa, with neither giving the other an inch of space.
However, it was Ufuk Talay’s side who ended the first half on the front foot. Alexander Popovic forced Izwan into a save with a 39th-minute header from a corner, before Rhyan Grant found the back of the net moments later — but for the second time in the half, Sydney had a goal ruled out, this time for offside.
It was turning into a defensive masterclass from the Sailors’ back five, marshalled by former Socceroo Bailey Wright — who, in a twist of fate, was playing his first-ever competitive club match on home soil.
“We knew we were going to be up against some real quality,” said Bailey. “We’ve had our moments of luck, but I believe you earn that through hard work, commitment, and preparation. As a defender, you relish games like these, where you have to fight for every ball and truly earn the result, no matter how difficult it is.”
The second half began with the Sailors showing plenty of attacking intent, as Maxime, Bart Ramselaar, and Rui Pires all had decent chances to break the deadlock in the opening minutes.
The real question, however, was what would happen at the other end — and to Sydney’s credit, they kept pushing in search of a way back into the tie. But it took until the 61st minute for them to fashion their first real chance of the second half, when Adrian Segecic’s swerving effort from outside the box forced Izwan into a sharp save.
In the 74th minute, the Sky Blues came even closer, as Polish forward Patryk Klimala rose to meet a cross with a powerful header, only for Izwan to pull off another vital stop to preserve the Sailors’ two-goal aggregate lead.
Sydney’s persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute. Douglas Costa whipped in a cross that was nodded back across goal by Grant, and Joe Lolley was on hand to steer it past Izwan to make it 2-1 on aggregate.
“When the goal goes in at 85 minutes, it’s code red — you just have to defend for your lives in those final 10 minutes,” said Ranko. “I think the guys did a tremendous job.”
Ranko responded by sending on Lionel Tan to shore up the defence, and despite relentless pressure from Sydney, the Sailors’ rearguard held firm and got the job done in front of the 10,588 fans at the Allianz Stadium.
And when Kuwaiti referee Abdullah Jamali blew the final whistle, the Sailors bench erupted, with players and staff sprinting onto the pitch to celebrate what is arguably the greatest moment in the club’s history.
“From the start of this journey, I don’t think anyone really expected us to be here.” said Bailey after the game. “We’ve come through some real adversity, some tough obstacles, and we’ve had our setbacks, but here we are,
“Sydney are a really good team and they made it hard for us tonight. We didn’t win this game, but we got through. Honestly, I’m still pinching myself. These are the moments you dream of — playing in finals, being part of something special. That’s why you play football. And now, I just want to help the team go even further.”
This monumental achievement sees the Sailors go one better than Home United and Geylang International, who reached the semi-finals of the AFC Cup back in 2004.
Nearly 21 years on, the Sailors are now preparing to play in the prestigious ACL Two final — where they will take on United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah FC on Sunday, 18 May.
“What we’ve done is an unbelievable achievement for a Singaporean club,” said Ranko. “I’m still waiting for someone to wake me up — but honestly, I don’t want to be awake. I want to keep dreaming… and let’s hope we can go all the way.”
Just 90 minutes stand between the Lion City Sailors and a place in history — a chance to become the first Singaporean side to reach the final of a major Asian club competition.
But a true test of mettle awaits at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night (16 April), as the Sailors take on Sydney FC in the decisive second leg of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two semi-final.
Armed with a vital two-goal cushion following a commanding first-leg performance in Singapore, the Sailors know the job is far from done.
A fired-up Sydney ready to hit back
Stung by their defeat at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Sydney are determined to turn the tide on home soil. The Sky Blues will look to ride the momentum from a spirited 2-2 weekend draw against A-League leaders Auckland FC — a result that kept their Finals Series hopes alive.
View this post on Instagram
They currently sit sixth in the standings, holding a slender one-point lead over seventh-placed Adelaide United and a two-point advantage over Macarthur FC in eighth, with just three games remaining in the regular season.
Despite the pressure on multiple fronts, Sydney head coach Ufuk Talay remains confident in his side’s depth and character ahead of Wednesday night’s crunch encounter.
“The team’s looking good. Other than a couple of injuries that we already know about, we’ve got everyone available for selection for tomorrow’s clash,” said Talay at the pre-match press conference.
“It’s not the first time this season that we’ve been on the canvas and come back from it. I think the boys have shown good character and resilience to get themselves out of situations where we haven’t started with a positive scoreline.
“But we’ve also seen before — like against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (in the quarter-final second leg) — how we gave away a 2-0 lead in just 35 minutes against a quality opponent. So now, the reality is we need to score two goals in 90 minutes to give ourselves a real chance of getting something out of this game and progressing to the final.”
Sydney will also be driven by the knowledge that their only remaining path to continental football next season is to overturn this tie and go on to win the tournament.
Talay’s charges failed to defend their Australia Cup crown — which had secured their place in ACL Two this season — after a shock Round of 32 exit to National Premier Leagues (NPL) Victoria outfit Oakleigh Cannons FC.
They will be without key defender Alex Grant for the second leg due to a calf injury, but the rest of the squad is raring to go, especially with the in-form Adrian Segecic in their ranks.
View this post on Instagram
The 20-year-old, touted as one of Australia’s brightest prospects, netted a pair of stunning long-range goals over the weekend to go joint-top of the A-League scoring charts with 12 goals, and is likely to start this time round.
Sydney midfielder Anthony Cáceres believes that with the quality in their ranks, they are well-equipped to turn the tie around.
“We’ve got very capable players who can change the game at any moment,” said Cáceres. “Segecic has proven that time and time again. And ultimately, when things don’t go our way, we have our structure to fall back on. If we execute the structure and the game plan, we give ourselves the best chance for those moments to appear — and it’s about taking them when they come.
“We’ve got all the tools at our disposal. We’re tactically prepared, and individually, we’ve got players who can make a difference and get us back into the tie.”
Nonetheless, despite needing to overturn a two-goal deficit, Talay was quick to emphasise that his side would not adopt an all-out attacking approach from the first whistle.
“There’s not the mindset of going all out, all guns blazing,” he shared. “We need to be smart with the decisions we make. We know we need to score two goals to level the aggregate at 2-2, and then possibly look for a third.
“If that takes a bit longer than 90 minutes, so be it. But we’ll go out with the mentality that we need to play well, perform well, and score those two goals to give ourselves the best chance of getting something out of the game.”
Sailors gunning to create more history
While a tense battle awaits at the Allianz Stadium, the Lion City Sailors remain steadfast in their pursuit of silverware — both at home and on the continental stage.
Less than 12 hours after their goalless Singapore Premier League (SPL) clash against Brunei DPMM on Saturday (12 April), the Sailors were already airborne, embarking on a near eight-hour, 6,300km journey to Sydney.
View this post on Instagram
Quick turnarounds and packed schedules have been par for the course this season, with this match marking their 48th outing in a gruelling yet exhilarating 2024/25 campaign.
Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković lauded his team’s commitment and resilience that have carried them this far, and is backing his players to rise to the occasion and secure their place in the inaugural ACL Two final.
“In these kinds of games, I don’t really have to motivate the players much — so for me, these are actually easier games to coach,” said the Serb. “The confidence is definitely there after the first leg, but we know this is going to be a totally different game. We’re ready — and we’re not just going to sit back, let’s be clear about that.
“What gives us confidence is that we’ve scored in every away game of this campaign. We know we’re capable of doing it again.
“I think we put in a pretty decent performance in the first leg, especially defensively — we neutralised a lot of their attacking threats. If I were to be a bit critical, we had the chance to kill off the tie in that match, and that’s maybe the one thing we could have done better.”
A homecoming for Bailey Wright
This clash will carry extra significance for Australian Bailey Wright, as it marks the first time the Sailors centre-back plays a professional club match on home soil.
Bailey began his professional career with Preston North End and spent 14 years in England across four clubs before making the move to Singapore in July 2023.
Despite a long and decorated career — which includes appearances at the FIFA World Cup and over 200 games in the English Championship — the 31-year-old had never played in the A-League, making this a poignant return to familiar shores.
His unique storyline has attracted considerable media attention in recent weeks, but the former Socceroo remains focused on the task at hand: helping the Sailors script another memorable chapter in their pursuit of continental glory.
“Occasions like this — a semi-final of the ACL Two — are an opportunity for us to really make our mark on Asian football and show what Singapore is all about,” said the Melbourne-born Bailey, who previously played at the Allianz Stadium during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with the Australian national team.
“We’ve got a really good group of players and staff who’ve worked incredibly hard to get to where we are. Singapore football doesn’t always get a lot of attention over here, especially when it comes to the league.
“But I think everyone who watched the first leg last Wednesday saw that we’re a quality side and we deserve to be at this stage. We’ve got some talented players, and we’ve been getting stronger and stronger since the start of the season.
“Sydney are a great team with a strong squad — I’ve always been a big supporter of the A-League — but we’re here to make a statement and show who we are, both as a team and as individuals.”
Bailey also rallied his teammates to leave everything on the pitch as they chase a moment that could define their careers.
“We’ve only been a club for five years, so just getting to this level is already a huge achievement — and now we’ve got an opportunity to make a final,” said Bailey. “Sometimes it can take 20 years for these moments to come around.
“You just never know, and that’s why you have to enjoy it and make the most of it. Before you know it, your career’s over and you’ll look back at nights like this. If you’ve capitalised on them, they’ll stay with you forever.
“We’re all aware of that. We know what’s at stake — and it’s not just important for us as a club or as individuals, but for Singapore as well.”
Should the Sailors progress, they will face either Saudi Arabia’s Al-Taawoun or UAE’s Sharjah FC in the final on 18 May.
