Author: Lion City Sailors
Three goals in each half saw the Lion City Sailors return to winning ways with a 6-0 victory over Tanjong Pagar United, sending them top of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) on Saturday (14 September) night at the Jurong East Stadium.
With title rivals BG Tampines Rovers dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Young Lions in the night’s other game, the Sailors now lead the league on goal difference.
The Sailors had gone three matches without a win in all competitions, and following the international break, Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković used the time for a much-needed reassessment, making seven changes to the starting lineup.
Song Uiyoung, Toni Datković, and Maxime Lestienne were all left out for this fixture – this was the first time since October 2022 that Maxime was not included in an SPL matchday squad.
Explaining the changes to the line-up, Ranko said, “We rotated a lot because, as I mentioned before the match, it’s going to be a very tough 20 days with many games. Especially in our league, we face tough matches, but I also want to highlight the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two and the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.”
Abdul Rasaq Akeem returned to the fray for the first time since August last year after recovering from his injury setback, while there was also a first start of the season at right back for Bill Mamadou.
After a slow start to the match, it was Rasaq who had the Sailors’ first attempt on target with a header from Obren Kljajić’s cross in the 28th minute.
“When you put a team together that normally doesn’t play so many games, there’s bound to be some nerves. I knew that, so we just needed to settle into the game, and I think from the first goal onwards, we were pretty comfortable,” said Ranko.
The important first goal came about after some neat play by the lively Obren, who was brought down in the box by Tanjong Pagar defender Syed Akmal, and the referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot for a penalty.
Rasaq, who last scored in August 2023, stepped up with a calm penalty to make it 1-0 to the Sailors in the 32nd minute.
“After such a long injury, and especially as a striker, I know it can be very frustrating when you’re not on the field. He worked so hard to get back, and for his first game, I have to say he played really well. Everyone is very happy for him,” remarked a delighted Ranko on Rasaq’s successful return.
The majority of the Sailors’ attack came down the left with Sergio Carmona Pérez – making his third start of the season – a livewire on that flank.
It was the Spaniard’s cross that found Adam Swandi’s head to double the Sailors’ lead in the 36th minute. Just a minute later, the 20-year-old was at it again with a superb ball that found Shawal Anuar, who timed his run to perfection and finished clinically to make it 3-0.
However, just before the break, Adam had to be substituted due to what appeared to be a chest issue.
Amidst all the goals, both teams were reduced to 10 men as Tanjong Pagar’s Uzbek defender Timur Talipov and the Sailors’ M. Anumanthan were sent off in two separate incidents.
Dutch midfielder Bart Ramselaar came on at half time to great effect, and he found himself on the scoresheet nine minutes into the second half by applying the finishing touch to a great team move.
Bart then turned provider with a clever scoop assist for substitute Lennart Thy to rifle home the Sailors’ fifth of the night in the 73rd minute.
The Sailors’ number 9 put the icing on the cake with a diving header for his ninth goal of the season ten minutes later after being brilliantly found by Carmona, who completed his hat-trick of assists in the process.
Man of the Match Lennart was back amongst the goals, and the German was delighted with his personal display.
“I think I had a bit of a tough start with difficulties in scoring, and I needed time to adapt — to the weather, the league. But now I think I’ve found my way in both the league and the team. I like how things are going, and it’s been a lot of fun with the guys, on and off the pitch,” said the German centre-forward.
It was the 10th SPL win of the season for the Sailors, who made light work of the bottom-placed Jaguars. Ranko believes this victory will provide the squad with renewed confidence for the tougher challenges that lie ahead this month.
“I’m very happy that the guys that played today showed what they can do and they delivered a good result. The only thing I’m not happy about is the red card, but I’m pleased with the three points,” the Serb said.
The Sailors will next turn their attention to the commencement of their eagerly awaited AFC Champions League (ACL) Two campaign, which begins with a home game against China’s Zhejiang Professional on Thursday (19 September).
And this time, Ranko insists that he will utilise the full complement of his squad.
“Our squad isn’t very large. We rested a couple of players today because they needed it. Toni and Maxime weren’t left out because I wanted to rest them, but because they had slight injuries and needed to be looked after,” said Ranko. “Against Zhejiang, everyone can play, and everyone will play.”
Six months of hard work will come down to 90 minutes at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Sunday (15 September) evening, when the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team take on fourth-placed Still Aerion in their final match of the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) season.
Currently two points behind current leaders Albirex Niigata (S), who have already completed their campaign, the equation for the Sailors Women is straightforward: win, and they will secure their third consecutive WPL title.
Fresh off an impressive 10-0 win over BG Tampines Rovers in midweek, Daniel Ong’s young charges are raring to go as they look to bring the trophy back to Mattar Road once again.
“It was nerve-racking against Tampines because we had to win; we were admittedly rushing things a bit at the start, so I was glad to to score the first goal and lift the weight off the team’s shoulders,” said midfielder Dorcas Chu, whose 25th-minute header opened the floodgates against the Stags.
“Overall, we had a good game, but the job is still not done yet. We have to give 100 percent (against Aerion), leave everything out there, and make sure we get our hands on that trophy come the final whistle on Sunday.”
Title race going down to the wire
The 2024 season has admittedly presented a different challenge to the Sailors Women. After all, this is the first time that the title race has gone down to the wire, having been pushed hard by a dogged Albirex side which had brought in several Singapore internationals.
In contrast, the past two seasons in 2022 and 2023 had seen the Sailors Women secure the title with two games left to spare.
However, Dorcas believes the pressure of being involved in a title race is something that is bringing the best out of the Sailors.
“Of course, there’s an element of stress that comes with a title race, but this is what football is all about, and it’s through this that we learn and improve,” said the 22-year-old, who noted that having another team challenge for the title is testament to the ever-improving level of women’s football in Singapore.
“I’m actually glad we have this pressure, and I’m really proud to see that instead of allowing the pressure to break us, it’s bringing the team together and developing us.
“I can see the desire and hunger among the younger players here; they’re always giving their 100 percent, and trying everything to become even better individuals. I hope we keep this attitude up because we have plenty more to achieve.”
Young squad proving their worth
After shifting to a younger squad — with seven players promoted from the Girls Academy in the off-season and the majority of the team under the age of 22 — the Sailors Women have done exceptionally well to stand on the cusp of another WPL triumph.
Among the seven Academy players who were promoted to the senior squad include Yuvika Suresh. The 15-year-old has impressed in her maiden WPL campaign, scoring two goals – one of which came against the Stags in their previous encounter.
“I’m really grateful to be promoted to the first team this season; it’s been a great journey with this team,” said the winger.
“The intensity of training and the competition for places are two of the things that really stand out for me. We all have to fight for our spot; every training, we have to be fully switched on so that we can prove our worth in this team.”
Another AWCL campaign in sight
The Sailors’ motivation to win the WPL title also stems from a bigger goal in mind: to return to compete in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) qualifiers for a second straight year.
“Our participation in the AWCL last month really gave us something to work towards, and this is our target as a team: to play in the AWCL again, so that we can be exposed to the level of the game at the international level.
“To do that, we’ve to make sure we win on Sunday and be champions of the WPL,” said Yuvika.
Lifting the 2024 WPL trophy will also mean a lot for Dorcas, who missed the 2023 triumph due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Dorcas, who has since made a full recovery and been a key part of the Sailors Women this season, said, “Winning the league will mean the whole world to me. It will be a vindication of all the hard work I put in during rehab so that I can get back to playing.
“But it’s not just about me; it’s about the team. We’re going to focus on the playing style that Coach Daniel has drilled us on all season, and hopefully we can enjoy the winning moment together as a team.”
After a two-week break for the FIFA international window, the Lion City Sailors will return to action on Saturday (14 September) with an away Singapore Premier League (SPL) clash against bottom-placed Tanjong Pagar United at Jurong East Stadium.
The match will kickstart a hectic run of six games in 20 days, concluding with an away trip to Bangkok, Thailand, to face Port FC in the second matchday of the 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two Group Stage on 3 October.
In between are crucial matches across three competitions – the SPL, ACL Two and ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup – before the October international window begins.
Despite the demanding schedule, Sailors defender Bailey Wright is relishing the challenge, and has emphasised the need to ‘take each game as it comes’.
“It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true – the most important game is always the next one, and right now, it’s the one against Tanjong Pagar. It’s a long season which hasn’t even reached its halfway mark, so we’re not thinking about how many games we have to play,” insisted the 32-year-old.
“Each competition is important to us, and we want to represent the club in the best possible way.”
With the recent international break serving as a chance for the Sailors to recalibrate after a few less-than-ideal results in August, Bailey is confident that his side is now equipped to deliver a better report card this month.
“The break has given us the opportunity to build as a team on the training ground and work on some little details. Obviously, our previous results haven’t been what we expected from ourselves, so we have to do better,” said the former Sunderland captain.
“It’s quite straightforward – we’re focusing on being more compact defensively and giving fewer opportunities to the opposition. At the other end of the pitch, we need to keep creating chances and finish them.
“The most important thing is the players look fresh and fit; we’re all energised and ready for the run of games ahead.”
While the Sailors emerged 3-0 victors in their first meeting with Tanjong Pagar earlier in July, Bailey acknowledged that the Jaguars could be tricky opponents — especially with their recent change in Head Coach from Hasrin Jailani to Hyrizan Jufri just over a week ago.
The 53-year-old Hyrizan brings vast experience from the domestic football scene, having held roles at both the professional and grassroots level.
“Any team that changes a coach will have a different playing style and it’s hard for us to predict how they’ll set up. For us, we’re focused on translating what we’ve practised in training into the game, and we know where we can hurt them,” said Bailey who was on the scoresheet in the last encounter against the Jaguars.
“The confidence levels among the boys are high, and we want to get a win before we head into the ACL Two competition next week.”
Sailors Women edge closer to WPL three-peat
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team are just one win away from securing their third consecutive Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title, following a resounding 10-0 win over BG Tampines Rovers in their penultimate league game of the season at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday (11 September) night.
Five points behind league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) before this match, and with two games remaining, the Sailors knew that anything less than a win would hand the White Swans the title.
Priscille Le Helloco starred against her former side with a clinical hat-trick, while Raeka Ee and Nur Ain Salleh each grabbed a brace.
Dorcas Chu, Sarah Zu’risqha, and Yuvika Suresh also found the net in what was the Sailors’ fourth win by at least a ten-goal margin this season – they had beaten Balestier Khalsa 18-0 and 11-0 earlier this year, on top of a 13-0 victory over Tiong Bahru.
It was an encouraging performance that pleased Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong, who praised his side for bouncing back from a disappointing 0-0 draw against Geylang International just three days earlier.
“Today’s game was great; the girls were getting into good positions and creating more movement upfront. What really pleased me was seeing how they enjoyed playing together as a team and supporting one another. The smiles on their faces showed the unity and strong bond within this group,” said the 35-year-old.
Daniel made three changes to the lineup that started against the Eagles, with Izairida Shakira replacing Beatrice Tan in goal, while Liyana Rickit came into the heart of midfield along with Dorcas Chu.
Making just her third start of the season, Liyana – who only turns 15 in October – delivered a composed and all-action display, impressing with her superb range of passing.
“I was very excited and thankful to get a start in such an important game – a game that we had to win,” the teenager reflected. “I was quite nervous to be honest, as I was playing in quite an important position where I couldn’t afford to lose the ball.
“But I’m very grateful that I had the help of Dorcas. She kept motivating me and told me to focus on my strengths. I had some loose touches and some moments where I could have scanned the pitch better, but overall, I’m happy to help the team with some good plays in the middle.”
The Sailors created a flurry of chances from the get-go but had to wait until the 25th minute to break the deadlock, with Dorcas sneaking in at the far post to nod home Miray Altun’s outswinging corner.
This was followed by two quickfire goals, with Raeka poking home from close range after great work by Khairunnisa Anwar down the left flank in the 31st minute, before the Sailors no. 9 turned provider to tee up Priscille for a curling finish a minute later to extend their lead to 3-0.
Raeka was at it again eight minutes into the second half as she produced an unerring finish into the bottom right corner after being found by a low cross from Nurhidayu Naszri.
That was the 20-year-old’s 16th goal of the season, as she kept her faint hopes of overhauling Albirex’s league-leading scorer Manami Fukuzawa – who has 23 to her name – alive.
Another two goals came in quick succession, with Priscille benefitting from Syazwani Ruzi’s defence-splitting pass to score in the 56th minute, before she got to the end of an unselfish Raeka cut-back to complete a memorable first hat-trick in Sailors colours.
Ain, Sarah and Yuvika were then introduced as substitutes shortly after, with the former scoring with her first involvement of the game.
The 14-year-old latched on to Umairah Hamdan’s ball over the top before directing a shot into the bottom left corner in the 59th minute to put the Sailors 7-0 up.
Sarah then joined in on the act eight minutes later with a brilliant placed shot for her 10th goal of the season, before Ain fired home her second in the 81st minute.
The rout was completed six minutes from time, with Yuvika dispossessing a BG Tampines defender before firing home from a tight angle to make it a perfect ten for the Sailors.
The result meant the Sailors closed the gap between them and Albirex to just two points. More significantly, it means a win on Sunday (15 Sept) in their final game of the season against Still Aerion would guarantee them a third straight WPL crown.
The Lion City Sailors have become the first Singapore Premier League (SPL) club to release an Official Music Video, titled Champions in Blue. The video represents a unique fusion of local football and music, as the club seeks to deepen the connection with its passionate fanbase and create new synergies with fans of sports and music alike.
Champions in Blue is a collaborative masterpiece written, arranged and produced by Sailors’ die-hard fan and musician Brandon Khoo along with Yogesh Pradhan, and performed by local singer Tan Yan Hua. It will be the Sailors’ new club anthem, to be played at all home matches with immediate effect.
The video features not only representatives of the Sailors’ First Team, Women’s Team and Academy, but also members of its vibrant fanbase. Set to an energetic track, the song embodies the passion and dedication of the team and its fans.
The release of Champions in Blue is timed to galvanise the Sailors ahead of their Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two opener against China’s Zhejiang Professional on 19 September. This will be the Sailors’ third straight season in AFC club competitions as they seek to fly the Singapore flag high at the regional level, on top of their participation in the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
“Music is a powerful tool to build emotional connection and a sense of community,” said Lion City Sailors General Manager, Tan Li Yu. “Champions in Blue is more than just a music video or a song; it’s a celebration of our club’s identity and the shared journey with everyone connected to the club.
“Beyond our existing fanbase, we want to create a unique and immersive experience for sports and music lovers to celebrate the passion and energy that drive us.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team suffered a setback in the 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title race on Sunday (8 September) night, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a gritty Geylang International side at ITE College East.
The result left them five points behind current leaders Albirex Niigata (S), who have already completed their season with 42 points.
The Sailors Women remain in control of their own destiny, though – maximum points from their final two matches against BG Tampines Rovers on Wednesday (11 September) night and Still Aerion (date yet to be confirmed) will be enough to pip the White Swans to a third successive WPL title.
Reflecting on the dropped points, Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong said, “The girls did well in terms of our build-up play till the middle third. But during the last phase in the attacking third, we were too eager to play the ball forward and when we did get inside the box, we did not manage to convert those chances into goals.”
Sailors winger Sarah Zu’risqha agreed, saying, “We tried to find the gaps in between the Geylang defence but they were compact enough to deny us space, and our finishing was just not as on point today as it usually would be.
“This result is a disappointment, but it doesn’t change the equation – we just have to focus on winning our last two matches to get the title.”
Going into the game, Geylang had been the only team to take points off the Sailors Women this campaign with a 2-1 win in June, and they once again proved a tough nut for Daniel’s charges to crack.
The defending champions started the game brightly and could have scored after just four minutes, but Priscille Le Helloco saw her effort denied by the crossbar.
Geylang kept the game tight thereafter, making it difficult for the Sailors Women to find space in the attacking third for much of the first half-hour.
Daniel’s charges managed to carve out two promising opportunities in the 30th and 32nd minutes, but close-range efforts from Nurhidayu Naszri and Priscille were kept out by Geylang goalkeeper Nurul Illyanis.
The Sailors Women then had a golden opportunity to go ahead on 38 minutes after Nurhidayu forced a handball by a Geylang defender, but the usually-reliable Syazwani Ruzi struck the resulting penalty against the post.
Geylang could have punished the Sailors Women for their profligacy three minutes later when Farah Nurzahirah sneaked through on goal after a defensive error, but custodian Beatrice Tan proved equal to the task with a smart stop.
Raeka Ee then spurned a one-on-one opportunity just before half time, as both teams went into the break goalless.
Daniel brought Liyana Rickit and Dorcas Chu on to freshen up things around the hour mark as his side continued pushing forward in numbers, but the final product was often lacking.
They came close to finding a breakthrough in the 79th minute when Raeka was brought down on the edge of the area, but substitute Josephine Ang curled the resulting free-kick just wide with her first touch of the game.
Josephine then saw a close-range shot blocked, leaving the Sailors Women to settle for a share of the spoils on a frustrating evening.
There will be no margin for error going into their final two matches of the season, but Daniel wants his charges not to let the pressure get to them.
“My message to the girls is to enjoy playing the football that we love and to cherish this moment of fighting for the title together as a team. As long as we stay united, the end result will be what we desire,” he said.
A defiant Sarah added: “I don’t think this result will affect our confidence at all. We play together as a unit, and this setback only serves to make us stronger. We’ll work hard in training to rectify our errors and put up good performances in the next two matches because we know what’s at stake.
“We want to win the league because we want to play in the AWCL (AFC Women’s Champions League) again next season.”
Coming off a challenging yet enriching maiden voyage into the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL), the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team are determined to charge ahead and accomplish their goal for 2024 – to secure a third consecutive Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title.
Daniel Ong’s charges know that three wins from their final three games – to be played in the space of eight days – will see them crowned champions. They will face fourth-placed Still Aerion this Wednesday (4 September) and third-placed Geylang International four days later (8 September), before wrapping up the season against BG Tampines Rovers the following Wednesday (11 September).
Currently three points behind league leaders Albirex Niigata (S), the Sailors Women crucially have two games in hand, and full-back Khairunnisa Anwar is backing her side to overhaul the White Swans – albeit with an eye on bigger ambitions.
“It’s not just about winning the WPL; doing so will mean we have a chance to qualify for the next AWCL – that’s the bigger goal for us,” said the 21-year-old. “Each of us has this hunger and determination to not just push for the title, but to also put up good performances for ourselves and the fans who are always supporting us.
“We cannot be complacent, thinking we can go out there and easily win these three matches. We’ve to continue to put in the hard work to improve our game play, and we’re putting in a lot of effort to do so.”
Participation in the AWCL has fuelled the girls’ desire and opened their eyes to a much higher level of football that they aspire towards in the coming years.
“We now have a bigger goal and purpose to look forward to and work towards; it’s not just to be champions of the WPL,” said Nisa. “I think each of us really gave our very best and we did ourselves and the Sailors proud, no matter how the results turned out.
“Now is the best time for us to reflect on ourselves, our performances and our mistakes, and put in even more hard work because ultimately, we want to make our mark in the next AWCL – and keep playing at this level for the next few years.”
Indeed, the Sailors Women can look back on an encouraging debut AWCL campaign in which they gave a good account of themselves in the Preliminary Stage, despite coming up against far superior opposition in the form of Indian Women’s League champions Odisha FC and Jordan Women’s Pro League champions Etihad Club.
“Credit must go to Coach Daniel; his philosophy for us is to have a lot of possession and constantly move after we pass the ball,” revealed Nisa. “Against Odisha, we did make a lot of good plays and showed that we can play good football, instead of simply kicking the ball away or pumping it upfield when we were under pressure.
“We just need to keep believing in each other as a team, make runs for each other, and I’m sure we’ll be better equipped to play the region’s top teams in the future.”
For now, the Sailors Women are fully focused on making it a WPL three-peat – an achievement that would have added significance given the shift to a more youthful squad, with most players aged 22 and below, including seven Academy graduates who made their WPL debuts this season.
Nisa – a member of the 2022 and 2023 WPL title-winning squads – is relishing the opportunity to impart her knowledge and is urging the girls to cap off a season to remember.
“Time passes in a flash; I’m already one of the senior players here,” she said. “While the team is now very young, I see a lot of potential in these girls and they have a lot to offer the women’s game here.
“It’s not easy making the step up to play in the WPL, especially when they are younger than most of the players from the other teams. For the promoted and newer girls to win their first WPL trophy would be a reflection of the hard work they have put in all year long, and we’re all working towards achieving another significant milestone for the club.”
The Lion City Sailors were left to rue a string of missed chances that saw them drop two points in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title race on Friday (30 August) night, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Geylang International at the Bishan Stadium.
With league leaders BG Tampines Rovers also dropping points in a 1-1 draw against Hougang United on the same night, the Sailors would have gone top of the table with a victory over the third-placed Eagles.
But despite twice taking the lead through Bart Ramselaar and Maxime Lestienne, the hosts were pegged back by a Tomoyuki Doi brace on what was a frustrating night for the team and their Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković.
Ranko had been looking for a positive response from his side after back-to-back defeats in the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup and in the league against Albirex Niigata (S) last weekend.
However, it was Geylang that produced the first shot on goal when Ryoya Taniguchi shot straight into the hands of Izwan Mahbud, who this week celebrated his first Singapore national team call-up in over two years.
The Sailors did create chances in transition during the opening 45 minutes, but their inability to make these chances count left Ranko disappointed.
“In the first half, we had a lot of opportunities where we had four against four, or even four against three,” said the Serb. “I think we didn’t make the right decisions at those moments.
“I have a feeling that this season, we’re missing so many chances. With our experience, we should’ve controlled the match.”
The Sailors did get off the blocks quickly in the second half, as Maxime’s pass found Bart who kept his feet brilliantly before producing a smart finish for the opening goal.
The Eagles equalised nine minutes later through Doi, but the Sailors regained the lead soon after.
This time the roles were reversed, as Bart turned provider with a sublime pass with the outside of his right foot to find Maxime who rounded Geylang goalkeeper Rudy Khairullah to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute.
But with time running out, the visitors salvaged a point through Doi’s spot-kick after Lionel Tan was penalised for a challenge in the box.
A disappointed Ranko later said that while his side were the better team overall, their profligacy in front of goal ultimately cost them all three points.
“I think if we look at the whole game, we were the better team,” he said. “We had more chances and of course, I think Geylang were happy with the draw.
“When you have so many chances, you expect that you have to score. But I cannot say anything about the players, they gave a lot of effort. This is something that’s been happening now for a long time, that there are so many chances that are easier to miss than to score.”
Man of the Match Maxime echoed these sentiments.
“Honestly, I think we were the better team today but we didn’t get the result. We missed too many chances and we gave away two goals. We are a good team this year but we have to be much better when it comes to scoring and creating more opportunities,” said the Belgian, who now has 10 goals to his name this season.
After a two-week international break, the Sailors will return to league action on Saturday, 14 September, when they face Tanjong Pagar United at the Jurong East Stadium.
This will be followed five days later by the commencement of their AFC Champions League (ACL) Two campaign on home soil against China’s Zhejiang Professional.
“The positive for us is that nobody got injured and we got some players back,” said Ranko. “The only thing is that I have some players going for national team duty; that’s not really helping, but we have to shoulder on and prepare for a very difficult period.”
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team fought tooth and nail before going down to a 5-0 defeat by Jordan Women’s Pro League champions Etihad Club to end their 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL) campaign at the Preliminary Stage on Wednesday (28 August) night.
Up against far superior opposition at the Prince Mohammed Stadium, the Sailors Women held out well until their resistance was broken in the 30th minute. The hosts added two more goals before the break to effectively kill the tie off, before a quickfire double in the second half put an exclamation mark on an emphatic win.
Speaking after the game, Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong refused to blame fatigue – his side were playing their second game in the space of four days, after an opening-day 4-1 reverse to India’s Odisha FC – and was determined to learn from the harsh lessons of playing continental football.
“Given the number of training sessions we had with the girls, we prepared the team to the best of our abilities and the girls truly gave their very best in these two matches. Every single one of them, including those who didn’t play, did their part in pushing each other to their very best,” said the 35-year-old.
“What we’ll need to do is work more on our fitness and levels of concentration, because some of the goals that we conceded could definitely have been avoided and should have been better dealt with.
Midfielder Dorcas Chu sang from the same hymn book.
“Etihad are technically and tactically really strong; they play really fast football – they are the benchmark of what we hope to achieve one day. The speed of their game was even faster than Odisha’s, and something that the team had never encountered before,” said the 22-year-old, who was her usual bustling self in the middle of the park.
“After the first-half goals, we regrouped and adjusted our game plan and did way better in the second half. We kept trying to play proper football. I’m really proud of the team for being so flexible and resilient even though we were losing; none of us had our heads down.”
There was little doubt about the calibre of the opposition that the Sailors Women were coming up against. Representing Jordan, a country ranked 68th in the FIFA World Rankings – 64 places above Singapore – Etihad fielded several Jordanian internationals with AFC Asian Cup experience under their belts.
One of those was Jordan women’s national team captain Maysa Jbarah, who came with the reputation of being fourth in the list of all-time leading goalscorers in international women’s football, with an astonishing record of 137 goals in 133 caps.
It was little surprise, then, that the 34-year-old was the star of the night, plundering four goals past Sailors custodian Beatrice Tan.
Having made two changes from their first game with 15-year-old Cara Chang and Miray Altun coming in for Priscille Le Helloco and Nurhidayu Naszri, the young Sailors Women side did however hold their own in the opening exchanges.
There were glimpses of the pass-and-move philosophy that Daniel has been trying to instill in his side, with the Sailors Women stringing passes together and looking to exploit the pace of 14-year-old Nur Ain Salleh down the right flank.
The girls were up for the physical duels too, with Dorcas and pint-sized Khairunnisa Anwar flying into challenges to thwart Etihad’s attacks.
The Sailors Women could even have taken a shock lead just five minutes in when Raeka Ee capitalised on a defensive error to run through on goal, only to lose her footing at a crucial moment and see the chance go begging.
After that early escape, a formidable Etihad side – boasting a 100% record of 12 wins in their domestic league so far with 56 goals scored and just two conceded – began to impose themselves as the first half wore on.
After producing two brilliant saves to deny Zeina Hazem and Bin Ziyan Fatma, Beatrice was unable to prevent Jbarah’s effort from sneaking underneath her grasp to give the home side the lead in the 30th minute.
The Etihad No. 8 – who has played professionally in France, Turkey and Saudi Arabia – was at it again six minutes later as she latched onto Leen Al-Btoush’s defence-splitting pass to score with a comfortable finish.
The hosts made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time when the Sailors Women failed to clear a corner, and winger Rouzbahan Fraij’s shot was deflected past Beatrice by an unfortunate Raeka.
Jbarah rounded off the scoring in the second half with another two lethal finishes from close range to give her side a comfortable victory.
The win leaves Etihad and Odisha to battle for qualification to the Group Stage in a winner-take-all clash on Saturday (31 August) night, while the Sailors Women return home with plenty of pride as they resume their Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title pursuit with three matches left.
Reflecting on the “huge learning curve” for his side, Daniel said: “The biggest takeaway is not only the tactical situations that we encountered, but also the individual technical abilities that we need to keep improving on.
“But I have to say, I loved the way the girls played their football even though they knew our opponents were a lot better and stronger than us. Their bravery, willingness to try and eagerness to improve are qualities that will help us in the future.”
For Dorcas, it is all about looking at the bigger picture, as the Sailors Women continue to be trailblazers for Singapore women’s football.
“We’re all extremely grateful to have had this opportunity to represent the club at international level,” she said. “Not everyone has this chance, and especially as the first Singapore team to play in the AWCL, we couldn’t be any more honoured.
“I want the people back in Singapore to know that we as a team gave our 110% on the field, and I hope we have given a good account of ourselves and of Singapore women’s football. It gives us great confidence to know that we can compete at this high level and even score against India’s top team.
“We saw the difference in the level of intensity of the teams that we played against and we hope to have the fans’ patience, as we are determined to work really hard when we come back home to bridge the gap. It will take time, and we hope to have their support along the way.
“We’re excited to bring this level of intensity back to the WPL and one thing is for sure – we want to win the league so that we can compete in the AWCL again next season.”
We owe it to the fans: Bart
The disappointment on the faces of the Lion City Sailors players as they trudged off Jurong East Stadium on Sunday (25 August) said it all.
A 3-1 defeat to defending Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S) was not only their second loss in four days, after a 3-0 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup defeat by Borneo FC Samarinda in Balikpapan, Indonesia; it also meant the Sailors missed the opportunity to leapfrog BG Tampines Rovers at the top of the league standings.
Midfielder Bart Ramselaar acknowledged that the team had fallen short of their usual standards and ought to do better.
“That just wasn’t good enough from us,” the Dutchman said. “Of course, we travelled and had a game a few days before but it’s not an excuse at all. We had some good chances at 0-0 and things could have been different if we had put them away, but we should have done better overall.”
The two defeats were especially frustrating for Bart, who produced some promising moments in both matches and showed no signs of the muscular injury that had kept him out of the previous four matches.
“It wasn’t good having to watch the team from the sidelines, so I was really happy to be back on the pitch and I really tried to help the team get going,” said the former PSV Eindhoven man. “I think we were unlucky with the finish and the last pass; it’s important for me to be influential to the team with goals and assists, but I’m sure it will come again,”
“I’m feeling pretty good about my condition right now and the key is to settle into a rhythm and get that connection with my fellow attackers again. Ultimately, it’s not about myself; I want us to win games as a team.”
Make no mistake about it – the Sailors are hurt, wounded, and out to channel that frustration towards a much-improved display when they host third-placed Geylang International in the SPL at Bishan Stadium on Friday (30 August) night.
The Eagles are one of three sides that have taken points off the Sailors this season – in a 1-1 draw at Jalan Besar Stadium back in June – and Bart is determined not to let history repeat itself.
“Over the week, we’ve been analysing what didn’t go right for us and we know exactly what we need to do to correct those wrongs. The positive is that no one is blaming anyone and we’re all working in the same direction,” he said.
“We’re taking this responsibility as a team with a positive mindset, and it’s important that we are at our best to defeat a very good Geylang side.”
That is the main thing on the Sailors’ minds right now: to put in a performance back at their Bishan den that the fans can be proud of.
“Our supporters are always there for us; they were singing and chanting for us all the way till the end at Jurong East, and I feel we really owe it to them. We’ll go out there on Friday to make sure we deliver a strong performance and good result for them,” Bart said.
“It’s important for us to stick together as one team – players, staff and fans – because we still have a long journey this season and there’s plenty for us to get excited about.”
