The equation for the Lion City Sailors was simple: earn at least a point against BG Tampines Rovers, and they would be crowned this season’s Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions.
And the Sailors achieved just that on Sunday (3 May) night at Our Tampines Hub, as they battled to a goalless draw against their closest title rivals to seal back-to-back SPL crowns for the first time in the club’s history.
The result not only preserved an unassailable eight-point lead with two rounds remaining, but also saw the Sailors set a new club record of 20 league matches unbeaten — a run that, fittingly, began with another 0-0 draw against the Stags in the final game of last season.
The previous mark of 19 spanned the final 18 matches of their maiden title-winning campaign in 2021 and the opening game of the following season.
Speaking after the match, Head Coach Jesús Casas expressed pride in his side’s achievement, but made clear their ambitions stretch further, with an unbeaten season now firmly in their sights.
“To end the season unbeaten is a goal that we have in mind, and I can see the players are very hungry to achieve this objective,” said the Spaniard. “But for now, it’s important that we enjoy this moment with the team and our fans before we prepare for the next game.”
The Sailors will face Albirex Niigata (S) and BG Tampines Rovers again on 10 and 17 May respectively, as they chase a historic unbeaten campaign. Only Albirex have achieved that feat in SPL history, doing so in 2018 when they competed as a foreign outfit.
Vice-captain Bailey Wright echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“To win the league back-to-back is something pretty special and it just shows the character we have within this team. But the job is not done yet — we still have ambitions, we want to keep going and stay undefeated,” said the 33-year-old.
With their title hopes on the line, BG Tampines started brightly and thought they had taken the lead inside the opening minute. Zikos Chua fired home a rebound after Ivan Sušak had parried Seiga Sumi’s effort, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
That early scare jolted the Sailors into rhythm, although clear chances remained at a premium. Christopher van Huizen delivered a teasing corner in the 32nd minute, but Shawal Anuar could not keep his header on target.
Jesús turned to his bench in the second half, introducing Tsiy Ndenge, Hami Syahin and Anderson Lopes as the Sailors searched for a breakthrough. Tsiy came closest with a free kick in the 79th minute, before Hami sent a volley narrowly over five minutes later as the tension at OTH intensified.
The Sailors were then forced to weather late pressure, with Ivan producing a superb save in stoppage time to keep out Jacob Mahler’s goal-bound header and secure a vital clean sheet.
It was Ivan’s 10th of the campaign and the Sailors’ 12th overall, underlining the defensive solidity that has been central to their title-winning season.
This latest triumph marks the club’s third SPL title in just six seasons since its 2020 inception — a clear testament to its steady rise in Singapore football.
“This club has big ambitions, and everyone knows that, from those who have been here for years to those who have just arrived,” reflected Bailey, who has made 93 appearances since joining in July 2023.
“There’s no shying away from the pressure and we all know we need to deliver trophies. It’s not easy, but we embrace it. We’re growing accustomed to success here, but it’s still early in the club’s journey. It’s an honour to be part of this and we’re excited for what’s next.”
As chants of “Champions Again” rang out from the stands, Jesús also cast an eye towards the future.
“I just want to say a big thank you to all our staff, players and fans. Everyone played a part in us winning the league,” he said. “We’ll focus on our last two games now, but next season we want to push on and achieve strong results in continental competitions.”
