Month: November 2025
Having suffered a narrow defeat to Bangkok United in their recent Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two Group G match, the Lion City Sailors will be determined to produce a different outcome when they host the Thai side in the reverse fixture at the Bishan Stadium on Thursday (6 November) evening.
Meeting familiar opposition
With four points from their opening three Group G matches, the Sailors know they can ill afford to drop any more points if they are to keep their qualification hopes in their own hands.
Beating Bangkok United will be easier said than done, however, as the Thai side got the better of the reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions in their last three meetings. Their most recent encounter saw Bangkok United claim a 1-0 win over a 10-man Sailors side, courtesy of a Muhsen Al-Ghassani penalty at the True BG Stadium.
And on Thursday, the Bangkok Angels will be looking to extend their strong run of results against the Sailors and take a big step towards securing their place in the Round of 16.
“The Sailors are tough opponents to play against as they have many quality players. Our focus is not on past results, but on our own team and players,” said Bangkok United Head Coach Totchtawan Sripan.
Bangkok United did show some frailties in recent weeks, needing two stoppage-time goals to scrape past bottom-placed Lamphun Warriors 4-3 in Thai League 1 on 26 October, before suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to Uthai Thani – who currently sit 14th in the 16-team standings – in their most recent league outing.
With his side playing three games in just the space of a week, squad management will be key for the 53-year-old as he aims to navigate a tricky congested schedule.
“Since we are playing a lot of games in a short period of time, we will not make many tactical changes,” said Totchtawan. “Instead, we will rely on the players who are in the best possible condition to help us get the victory we need to reach the knockout stages.”
While former Sailor Richairo Živković is likely to miss the game through injury, Bangkok United still have plenty of quality in attack, including the evergreen Teerasil Dangda — Thai League 1’s all-time local top scorer, who has also earned over a century of caps for the Thailand national team.
This fixture will also see former BG Tampines Rovers stalwarts Kyoga Nakamura and Seia Kunori return to Singapore, with the duo boasting a combined total of nearly 200 SPL appearances under their belt.
Also returning to familiar territory is Montenegrin midfielder Nebojša Kosović, who scored a brace for his country in a 3-2 defeat to a Singapore Under-15 side at the Jalan Besar Stadium during the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
“I have very nice memories playing in Singapore, and I’m very happy to be back here. It will be a very tough game, especially in the middle of the pitch,” said Kosović.
“We are very clear on the instructions from the manager and coaching staff. Our schedule has been tough, but we are all mentally focused. Now, we just need to be prepared for what will come tomorrow.”
Ready for a response
Though Bangkok United will be tricky opposition for the Sailors, they can take heart from their strong record against Thai opposition in continental competition.
Indeed, the Sailors’ defeat to Bangkok United marked their first loss in their last six meetings with Thai sides, a run which includes memorable home wins against the likes of Port FC and Muangthong United in the ACL Two.
The Sailors will head into the game in high spirits as well, having responded to their defeat in Bangkok with a 3-0 win in the SPL over Albirex Niigata (S). Their previous continental match at Bishan Stadium also saw them put up a dominant display to overpower Selangor FC 4-2 on 1 October.
With the Sailors aiming to secure a spot in the knockout stages for a second year running, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković is confident that his side has the character to deliver a positive result against Bangkok.
“We need to bring the right mentality and determination into every game, and luckily for me, I do not have to remind my players of this,” said Ranko. “Everyone knows the importance of the match tomorrow. They will be a tough opponent, but we will also pose a challenge for them.”
While the Sailors’ task will be made tougher with the absence of experienced figures Hariss Harun and Safuwan Baharudin, the Serbian remains assured that his players have what it takes to rise to the occasion.
“We are going to miss them and the experience they bring, but I know the rest of my players will step up tomorrow like how they’ve been doing for the past few seasons,” he explained.
Ranko’s sentiments were echoed by German forward Lennart Thy, who has already made his mark in the competition this season by scoring a crucial late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Persib Bandung in their opening group game.
“We demand a lot from ourselves in every game. The team showed what we are capable of in the last game against Selangor, and we all know what we need to do tomorrow to get all three points,” explained the 33-year-old.
With the Sailors aiming to produce another memorable performance at home, Lenny has called on the fans to turn up in numbers at the Bishan Stadium.
“I hope that there are many fans at the stadium. It’s always good to have them behind us as they are always very supportive, and that gives us an extra boost on the field. We’re going to give everything to deliver a good result tomorrow.”
Eight Lion City Sailors players have been called up to Gavin Lee’s 26-strong Singapore National Team squad that will face Thailand and Hong Kong in the upcoming November international window.
Lions captain Hariss Harun, along with Safuwan Baharudin, Lionel Tan, Hami Syahin, Song Uiyoung, Shawal Anuar, and custodian Izwan Mahbud, kept their spots from the previous October window in which they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away against India in a crucial double-header.
Meanwhile, there is also a recall for Sailors full-back Akram Azman after strong performances for the club in the past month.
The 24-year-old made two sturdy cameos off the bench in a 4-2 AFC Champions League Two win over Selangor and a 5-1 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over Young Lions, before putting in an outstanding performance in a 3-0 SPL victory over Albirex Niigata (S) in which he notched up a goal and an assist.
The Lions will take on Thailand in an international ‘A’ friendly at the Thammasat Stadium next Thursday, 13 November, before facing Hong Kong in a crucial Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifier five days later (18 November) away at the Kai Tak Sports Park.
A win will see Singapore qualify for the Asian Cup on merit for the first time in history.
When the full-time whistle blew at Bishan Stadium last Monday night (27 October), Ivan Sušak dropped to his knees, pointing both fingers skyward in a moment of pure emotion.
After all, the Croatian goalkeeper had just played a starring role in helping the Lion City Sailors shut out an in-form Albirex Niigata (S) side in a commanding 3-0 victory, as he made a number of key saves to secure his first clean sheet for the club. In doing so, the reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions became the first team this season to prevent Albirex from scoring in a league match.
“I’m very happy with the win and my first clean sheet,” said the 28-year-old. “However, that wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of the entire team. This win is a big mental boost for us, and it showed that we can bounce back from the loss to Bangkok United.”
Finding his feet in a new team and country
Having only joined the Sailors in July, the 2.03m-tall shot-stopper has begun to forge a good understanding with his defensive teammates. Having already faced tough continental opponents — such as Bangkok, Selangor FC, and Persib Bandung — Ivan believes the backline will only grow stronger as the season progresses.
“I can only speak positively about guys like Bailey (Wright), Hariss (Harun) and Lionel (Tan), both on and off the pitch,” he said. “The relationship we share is important. We depend on each other, and we’re always talking about the little things we can do to keep improving as a team.”
The move to Singapore from Croatian top-flight side Slaven Belupo was a major step in Ivan’s career, and while the transition was initially challenging, the camaraderie within the Sailors’ dressing room has helped him settle seamlessly.
“Singapore is an amazing city. I’d heard a lot about it from my brother, who was here 10 years ago. It’s strange to be here myself, but I’m happy,” he said with a smile.
“I knew Toni (Datković) before I came, and he’s helped me a lot, but all the players and staff have been very kind and supportive. Their help means a lot since I’m far from home, and now that my family is here too, everything is going well.”
With Singapore international Izwan Mahbud also in the squad, the Sailors boast two reliable goalkeepers competing for the number one spot — a dynamic that Ivan believes will only push both to greater heights.
“Izwan is a good goalkeeper and an even better person. We’re professionals and we fight for our spot, but that’s normal in football,” said Ivan. “We have a good relationship and push each other hard in training. That helps us both improve.”
Eyes on the continental prize
With close to 100 appearances in the Croatian top flight, Ivan’s experience and leadership will be vital as the Sailors continue their quest for a Round of 16 berth in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
He has already made his mark in the competition, most memorably with a stunning fingertip save in stoppage time to preserve a 1-1 away draw against Indonesia Super League side Persib on Matchday One.
“A goalkeeper can influence the outcome of a game, and I was happy to help the team,” he said. “It was just one save, but it was our collective effort that earned us that point.”
That moment was one of 15 saves Ivan has made in the competition so far — the second-highest tally in the AFC’s player rankings, just behind BG Tampines Rovers’ Syazwan Buhari and has drawn some praise from opposition fans online, though Ivan remains focused on the task at hand.
(Screengrab from the official AFC website)
“I didn’t play much attention to comments, be it good or bad ones. I’m here to help the team because that’s my job and I’m very focused on what I need to do as a goalkeeper.”
A chance to make amends
The Sailors’ qualification hopes took a hit after a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Bangkok United, which left them third in Group G. Despite the setback, Ivan believes the team can still take heart from their battling performance against the Thai outfit.
“We deserved more from that game. It’s hard to play with 10 men, but we still ran a lot and created good chances,” he reflected. “Sometimes you lose even when you play well, and that’s football. But I believe we can still qualify.”
Two weeks on, the Sailors will have the chance to exact revenge when they face Bangkok again this Thursday (6 November) at Bishan Stadium. It is a fixture that Ivan sees as a golden opportunity to get their campaign back on track.
“They’re a strong team, but I believe in our quality and our strong mindset. Our goal is to qualify, so we must stay focused and give everything to get all three points,” he declared.
“It’s important we defend well because we have the players up front who can score. Many of us have experience in big games, and we’re determined to get the job done.”
Securing his first clean sheet for the Sailors has only fuelled Ivan’s hunger to reach even greater heights, though he remains firmly focused on the team’s success.
“Every goalkeeper wants clean sheets, but what matters most is that the team gets the result,” he said. “For me, it’s about making the saves that help us win games.
“I know that playing with this team and staff will help me grow and improve every day. I’m happy here, and I want to stay at this remarkable club.”
And as the Sailors prepare for another crucial continental clash, Ivan has a simple message for the fans.
“We’re very grateful to the fans for being our 12th man. We hope they’ll come in big numbers on Thursday to push us towards our goal of taking all three points.”
