When Persib Bandung’s Andrew Jung put his side ahead at Bishan Stadium last Wednesday (26 November), it looked as though another difficult night in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two was looming for the Lion City Sailors.

This time, however, the hosts responded with conviction. Two quickfire goals frotm Shawal Anuar and Anderson Lopes flipped the contest on its head and sealed a vital win that kept the Sailors’ hopes of qualifying for the next round alive.

The result was especially satisfying for centre-back Lionel Tan, who still recalls last year’s corresponding fixture, which saw the Sailors concede three times in the final 15 minutes to fall 3-2 to the Indonesian side.

“I remember last year’s game vividly. We were disappointed, and nobody returned to the changing room happy,” said Lionel.

“This time, we managed to beat them by the same scoreline. Persib are a much stronger side this year, but we worked really hard and took our chances well.”

Beyond his defensive shift, Lionel also played a key part in the Sailors’ opener, delivering a pinpoint ball over the top for Lennart to finish. That assist was his third in Sailors colours.

“It was a good goal as my pass landed right behind the centre-back,” said Lionel. “But more importantly, Lennart’s touch and finish were perfect, so I’m just happy to have contributed.”

The victory was the Sailors’ fourth in five matches at Bishan Stadium this season, and Lionel felt the team’s response under pressure reflected their spirit and character.

“Everyone knew what was at stake. We certainly didn’t want to be eliminated from the competition, so we gave everything to get the win,” he said.

“Thankfully, we have a squad full of strong characters who can change a game even when we’re behind. That’s something we’ll carry into the final match.”

Despite securing a crucial win against the Group G leaders, the Sailors will still head into the final round of fixtures with their fate not in their hands. They must first beat Selangor FC and then hope Persib slip up against Bangkok United in order to reach the knockout stages.

Even with the uphill task ahead in the qualification race, Lionel remained intent on staying grounded in the Sailors’ own approach, and emphasised that the team’s mentality will be key heading into the decisive game. 

“Focusing on what you can control is very important because you need to go into every game fully tuned in to your own performance, as well as what the coach has planned,” he said.

“Although qualification is not in our hands, we will go into the game aiming for a win. What we can control is giving our very best until the final whistle.

But first, the Sailors face a tricky away test against Bangkok United in the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup on Thursday (4 December). This marks the Sailors’ third meeting with the Thai side in the past two months.

The Sailors’ only two defeats in their last eight matches against Thai opposition came against Bangkok, having recently lost 1-0 and 2-1 to them in the ACL Two group-stage encounters. 

“Bangkok have some great players and are very competitive in the Thai League. This is the third time we’re playing them in a short span of time, and I think even they’re tired of seeing us,” Lionel said with a grin.

“Our past two meetings have been very close, and I expect the same this time. Losing all three games would not be ideal, so we’re definitely going there to get a result.”

The Sailors endured a disappointing Shopee Cup campaign in the 2024/25 season, finishing fourth in their six-team group after three defeats in five matches. They also made a tough start to this year’s edition, falling 3-1 to Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim in their Group B opener back in August.

Even so, the experience has only strengthened Lionel’s resolve to help the team turn their fortunes around.

“The Shopee Cup is a very important competition to all of us. We know we have to push to do better than last year, which is why this game is so important,” said Lionel.

“It’s going to be tough, but I know the character we have in this team. We’re ready to bring the same spirit we showed against Persib and fight for all three points.”

Still riding the high of Singapore’s historic qualification for the Asian Cup, Lionel — one of eight Sailors called up for that decisive clash against Hong Kong — is keen to use that achievement as a springboard for further growth.

“Qualification for the Asian Cup has been one of the best moments of my career, and it motivates all of us to keep working harder,” he said. “For me, it’s about staying consistent, staying disciplined, and continuing to do what I’ve been doing.”

With a number of Sailors fans expected to make the nearly 2,000km trip to Bangkok, Lionel is determined to put in a performance worthy of their support.

“We’ve been to Thailand countless times, and we always see them there cheering for us. They may be small in numbers, but their voices are always heard loud and clear,” he said.

“Our Shopee Cup campaign has only just begun, and we’ll work hard to win games so we can be happy together.”