Author: Lion City Sailors
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team is set to compete in the inaugural season of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL), which will get underway in August.
The AFC confirmed earlier today (14 June) that the Sailors are among the 22 clubs – one from each country – that will participate in the first-ever flagship club competition for women’s football in Asia.
Clubs from the top eight AFC Member Associations (MAs), based on the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking as of 15 March 2024, will qualify directly for the Group Stage. This stage features three groups of four teams each, and will be contested in a centralised league format from October 6 to 12.
The remaining 14 clubs, including the Sailors, will compete in the Preliminary Stage, which consists of four groups: two groups of four teams, and two groups of three teams. This stage will be played in a centralised league format between August 25 and 31 in either Malaysia, Thailand, Jordan, or Saudi Arabia. The winners of each group will then advance to the Group Stage.
The knockout stages will be played next year, with the final slated for May 24, 2025.
The competition represents a huge opportunity for the Sailors Women, who have dominated the domestic Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL), winning the last two league titles without suffering a single defeat.
An off-season shakeup to inject youth into the squad has further reinvigorated the side. The reigning WPL champions have won all seven of their games so far, and currently lead the nine-team WPL by three points.
While acknowledging that the AWCL will present a significant challenge for his team, Sailors Women Head Coach Daniel Ong believes his players have the ability to rise to the occasion and showcase Singaporean women’s football in the best possible light.
“It’s a real honour for the club to represent Singapore in the first-ever AWCL,” said the 35-year-old. “We’re excited by the opportunity to test ourselves against high-calibre opposition and see how we match up against our counterparts from Asia.
“More importantly, we want the players to have this huge goal to aspire to as they continually elevate themselves. I’m confident they’ll be able to give a good account of themselves in this competition.”
Sailors Women captain Umairah Hamdan echoed these sentiments, adding, “Seeing our Men’s professional team represent the nation in the ACL for the past two seasons truly inspired us and fuelled our determination to strive for a similar goal.
“It’ll be challenging for sure, but these matches will bring out the best in us. We have many young players here, and our participation in this tournament will help us improve both individually and as a team.”
The official draw ceremonies for both the 2024/25 AWCL Preliminary Stage and Group Stage will be conducted on Thursday, 18 July at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The Lion City Sailors’ Singapore Premier League (SPL) away fixture against Brunei DPMM, originally pencilled for Saturday, 15 June in Bandar Seri Begawan, has been rescheduled to take place on Tuesday, 18 June in Singapore at Jalan Besar Stadium at 7.45pm.
The change was made upon the request of DPMM to allow them to address technical issues which they are currently facing at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.
The clash against the two-time league champions will be the Sailors’ first game after the June international break.
Thereafter, Aleksandar Ranković’s charges will return home to Bishan Stadium to face defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) on Sunday, 23 June before wrapping the month up with an away game against Geylang International at Jalan Besar five days later.
Ranko’s men are currently second in the nine-team SPL table, a point behind leaders Tampines Rovers after winning their opening two matches against Hougang United (4-1) and Young Lions (3-1).
The Lion City Sailors (LCS) Football Academy has been recognised for its robust development system for elite youth footballers in Singapore, having been conferred Two-Star Academy status by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under its AFC Elite Youth Scheme.
The LCS Football Academy – which develops players from the age of three to 18 – is now one of only four academies in Southeast Asia to receive Two-Star grading, alongside Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim FC Academy, NFDP Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD), as well as Thailand’s Chonburi FC Academy.
Launched in 2017, the AFC Elite Youth Scheme recognises academies in elite youth football through three tiers: One, Two, and Three-Star. A total of 22 club academies have been endorsed under this scheme, with only two currently on the highest tier of Three-Star – namely, South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC Academy, and Vietnam’s PVF Academy.
The LCS Football Academy received a Two-Star accreditation in April after meeting the assessment criteria set out by the Asian football governing body’s Youth Panel. The evaluation covers 20 performance categories, including administration, facilities, programmes, as well as player-centric factors such as welfare, psychology, and education.
“We’re proud to be amongst an elite group who have been awarded with the Two-Star Academy status,” said LCS chairman Forrest Li. “This is testament to the hard work that our Academy has put in over the past few years to ensure professionalism in all areas, from having specialist staff for every age-group team, to establishing a clear pipeline from the Academy to the First Team.”
AFC assessors Withaya Laohakul and Razip Ismail paid a visit to the Lion City Sailors Training Centre earlier in March and were impressed by the efforts that the Academy puts in to ensure the holistic development of the youth players.
“The LCS Football Academy has a good foundation, including a well-defined coaching structure, development plan for the club, coaching and playing philosophy, player profiles by position, training methodology, and financial stability.
“With strong leadership led by the club’s Technical Director, Sporting Director, and General Manager, along with their clear planning, vision, and philosophy, they’re heading in the right direction to succeed in youth development,” said Withaya.
Since attaining a One-Star grade back in September 2020, the LCS Football Academy has made sustained improvement and remarkable strides in various aspects.
Infrastructure
The operationalisation of the LCS Training Centre – the first-of-its-kind integrated football training facility in Singapore – in July 2022 is perhaps the biggest improvement that has been made over the past four years.
Equipped with physiotherapy rooms, a gym, an analysis room, and study facilities for academy trainees, alongside five top-of-the-line football fields, the Training Centre houses both Academy and First Team staff. Regular meetings between both parties ensure that goals and objectives are aligned, providing the club with the software and hardware needed to handle the rigours and demands of a modern and competitive football academy.
To complement the facility, the Academy has emphasised staffing in terms of both quantity and the variety of roles. Specialist staff now oversee every age-group team, including strength & conditioning coaches, sports psychologists, doctors, academic officers, and a full-time nutritionist who tailors the diet and nutritional requirements of the academy trainees.
The Academy also fully utilises technology to support academy trainees, employing match analysis tools like Hudl, and monitoring systems such as GPS and heart rate monitors.
Scholarship and education
The Academy’s Elite Development Programme – a multi-million dollar scholarship programme – is now into its fourth batch of scholars, with over 50 players from cohorts born between 2008 and 2011 benefitting from a well-rounded programme. This includes weekly local matches, quarterly overseas training camps, an annual major overseas tournament, as well as training stints with top foreign clubs.
The LCS Football Academy also ensures that its top talents are able to balance their footballing progress with robust academic development by partnering with St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) International.
The SJI International-LCS Elite Development Scholarship covers all associated school costs incurred leading up to either the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or, for some scholars, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The IGCSE is equivalent to the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level), which enables entry into local polytechnics and junior colleges.
Acceptance into SJI International is subject to the scholars being deemed to be able to cope with its academic rigours, with entry evaluation carried out by the institution.
At present, there are two cohorts of scholars enrolled in the scholarship programme. Selected scholars also have the opportunity to pursue early enlistment for National Service (NS) after completing the IGCSE, facilitated by the Lion City Sailors Early Enlistment Bond. This initiative aims to prepare scholars for a career in professional football.
Early Enlistment Bond
The bond, launched in December 2020, involves selected trainees enlisting for NS after completing secondary education, under Singapore’s Voluntary Early Enlistment Scheme. The aim is for them to fully immerse themselves in the rite of passage for Singaporean males before directing their full attention towards pursuing their footballing dreams.
When these players return to football, they are guaranteed a four-year professional contract with the club. Their primary aim would then be to battle for a spot in the Sailors’ first team, before eventually seeking to secure a move to a European club.
There have been four cohorts under the bond since its launch, with the first two batches already completing their Operationally Ready Date (ORD). Nur Muhammad Asis, from the inaugural cohort, is the first player from the LCS Football Academy to sign a professional contract with the Sailors, paving the way for many more to follow in his footsteps.
Overseas exposure
Thanks to the academy’s partnerships and strong relationships with top foreign clubs such as Feyenoord, Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid, Sailors trainees are afforded unique opportunities to participate in training and exchanges across Europe.
In 2024, all LCS Football Academy teams from Under-13 and above are travelling to Europe for either training camps or tournaments. They will visit countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, and Portugal.
LCS Football Academy Technical Director, Luka Lalić, said, “We place a strong emphasis on our youth players measuring up against their European counterparts, from their game understanding to the tactical, technical and physical aspects, as well as their responsibilities off the football pitch. We want them to see for themselves what the benchmark is, so they know what to work on and what they should aspire to become.
“We have excellent relationships with several top European clubs, and we want to continue leveraging these connections to provide our trainees with the best possible exposure, helping them become top-level professionals in the future.”
Building a pipeline for Singapore
The Sailors are also committed to consistently producing players for the national youth squads. At last year’s Lion City Cup final, eight out of the 11 players who started for the National Development Centre’s Under-15 squad were from the LCS Football Academy — a testament to the club’s strong development efforts and pivotal role in boosting football in the country.
LCS Football Academy General Manager Tan Li Yu stressed, “Ultimately, our goal is to help the national cause and build up a strong pool of players who can go on to play in the Singapore national team in the future.
“We firmly believe that there are plenty of budding football talents in the country. Our aim is to remove the obstacles or boundaries that prevent them from reaching their full potential. We are fully committed to our vision of being an elite development hub and will leave no stone unturned to help our youth players.”
With players like 16-year-old Nathan Mao and Asis already establishing themselves in the club’s first team squad, the Sailors remain dedicated to advancing their youth development efforts, and will strive to help the academy achieve the highest grade: Three-Star.
Reaffirming the Sailors’ commitment to youth development in the coming years, Li said, “We’re humbled by this Two-Star accreditation, and it only strengthens our determination to nurture the next generation of football stars in Singapore. We will continue to work extremely hard to develop the infrastructure and capabilities needed to attain the Three-Star grading in the coming years.”
Ask Lennart Thy about the incredible gesture he is perhaps best known for, and he will likely respond with an unassuming shrug or a wry smile.
After all, over the past few years, the Lion City Sailors’ newest recruit has consistently downplayed the significance of his act, insisting it was nothing more than ‘normal’.
But what exactly was it that Lennart did which earned him widespread praise and recognition?
The year was 2018, and Lennart was playing for VVV-Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Ahead of a crucial match against league leaders PSV Eindhoven, Lennart received news that he was a DNA match for a leukaemia patient urgently requiring matching stem cells for treatment.
Lennart, who had joined the donor register in 2011 while playing for Werder Bremen in Germany, knew immediately what he had to do. With the blessings of Venlo, he agreed to donate his blood to generate stem cells for the patient’s transplant.
This decision meant missing the game against PSV – but it was all worth it, as Lennart’s blood saved the patient’s life.
“For me, it was just a normal thing to help others when I can,” said the 32-year-old. “But it became a big thing in both the Netherlands and Germany – much bigger than I expected. Nonetheless, the love and gratitude that I received afterwards was really heartwarming.”
Though Lennart missed the PSV game, his presence was still felt at the Philips Stadion – he was honoured with the Man of the Match award, and the players’ escorts wore t-shirts emblazoned with the message, ‘Follow Lennart, become a stem cell donor.’
The subsequent widespread coverage of Lennart’s selfless act also led to a massive increase in stem cell donations in the Netherlands, and he was ultimately awarded the prestigious FIFA Fair Play Award later that year.
When asked if he would do it again if the opportunity arose, Lennart replied without hesitation, “Of course!”
Lennart, however, is not just a hero off the pitch. The experienced forward has often been the saviour for his teams, with his heart-on-sleeve style of play making him a fan favourite at every club he has played for.
In addition to being a hardworking No. 9 who presses from the front and can often be seen tracking back to help his team during defensive transitions, Lennart also has an innate knack for being in the right place at the right time.
But what sets him apart is his ability to finish with both feet – though primarily right-footed, Lennart scored eight of his 13 goals for PEC Zwolle in the recently concluded 2023/24 Eredivisie season with his left.
“My ability to finish with both feet wasn’t that obvious until last season, when people started coming to me saying ‘you’re better with your left foot’,” Lennart mused. “I said ‘No, no’, but in the following game I scored again with my left.
“I actually don’t dwell too much on which foot to use when I find myself in a scoring position, so perhaps going with my instinct makes it easier for me.”
Lennart’s footballing talent was evident from a young age. He was part of the Germany team – alongside the likes of Mario Götze and Marc-André ter Stegen – that won the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, finishing joint-top scorer of that tournament.
He also featured in the UEFA Champions League as an 18-year-old, when he came on for the last 10 minutes of Werder Bremen’s 3-0 loss at White Hart Lane against a Tottenham Hotspur side that featured players such as Peter Crouch, Gareth Bale, and Luka Modrić.
Unsurprisingly, he went on to enjoy an eventful and fruitful career in Europe. After his stint in the German top two divisions with Werder Bremen and St Pauli, he moved to the Eredivisie, where he played for three different clubs over the past decade.
Lennart finally bid farewell to the Eredivisie on 19 May, receiving a rousing reception from fans of PEC Zwolle – where he played over 100 matches – during their final league match of the season.
Now, Lennart is ready to embark on a new adventure – over 10,000km away, with the Sailors in Singapore.
He revealed that when the Sailors came knocking, the allure of being at the forefront of such an exciting footballing project in the Lion City proved too hard to turn down.
“I’ve always said I want to try to achieve something new in football outside of Europe,” said Lennart. “So, I was intrigued when the Sailors reached out to me. After doing my research, and speaking with the management here, it got me really excited about what the club is trying to build here in Singapore.”
The father-of-two added, “It’s also a great opportunity for me to go on a new adventure with my family.”
Outlining his ambitions with the Sailors, Lennart hopes to not only win silverware with the club, but also help the younger members of the squad become better players.
“I know the club is doing a lot in terms of youth development in the country, so I’ll do my best to help the young players at this club with the experience I have,” said Lennart, who once scored against Chelsea in a 2016 friendly.
“We also want to compete in two regional competitions, and are determined to win the league. I’m here to help the team score goals, play good football and achieve our objectives. The biggest challenge now is the weather, but I think I can adapt really fast over the next few weeks.”
The Lion City Sailors are delighted to announce the signing of experienced German forward Lennart Thy. This exciting acquisition comes as the club seeks to bolster its attacking options while challenging on multiple fronts this season.
Having opened the 2024/25 campaign by beating Albirex Niigata (S) to win the Community Shield, the Sailors are intent on adding more silverware, and have set their sights on winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup this season. The club also aim to make a mark in regional competitions such as the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup, and the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
Lennart, who joins from Dutch Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle for an undisclosed fee, has signed a two-year contract with the Sailors. The 32-year-old will add depth to the club’s frontline alongside players like Maxime Lestienne, Shawal Anuar, and Bart Ramselaar.
With over 200 appearances in Dutch football, including 173 in the top-tier Eredivisie, Lennart possesses genuine European pedigree. His goal-scoring prowess is evident through his tally of 54 goals across three different clubs – PEC Zwolle, VVV-Venlo, and Sparta Rotterdam – from 2017 to 2024.
Lennart emerged as the top scorer in the second-tier Eerste Divisie last year, recording 23 goals in 36 matches, and playing a pivotal role in PEC Zwolle’s immediate promotion back to the top-flight. He continued his impressive form into the recently-concluded 2023/24 season, notching 13 goals – including a memorable brace in a 2-2 draw away at Ajax Amsterdam – to finish seventh in the Eredivisie goalscoring charts.
Lennart, who has also represented Germany at the Under-20 level, previously played in the top two German divisions before making the move to the Netherlands in 2017.
Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković hailed the signing of his new 1.84m forward. He said, “Lennart is a quality player who is very lethal in the box, and can finish with both feet. More importantly, he embodies the modern forward, as he links up play well and presses hard from the front. He’s a real competitor who will work his socks off for the team, and I’m confident he will add a different dimension to our attack.
“His infectious energy and hunger are qualities that will rub off on the team, and I’ve no doubt he will score a lot of goals for us.”
One of Lennart’s most storied and unique achievements was winning the 2018 FIFA Fair Play Award. He received the accolade after making a blood donation to facilitate a stem cell transplant for a leukaemia patient, missing a game for VVV-Venlo against PSV Eindhoven in the process. Thy’s selfless act garnered widespread praise, and prompted a surge in donors stepping forward to contribute in the Netherlands.
Sailors Sporting Director Badri Ghent believes that the addition of Lennart will be beneficial to the team, both on and off the pitch. “Lennart is an excellent acquisition for us. He’s a genuine individual who transmits the right values and will be a positive influence around the younger boys we have amongst the ranks,” said Badri.
“And of course, his football qualities are something that will give us that edge up front as we challenge on four fronts this season.”
Lennart, who arrived in Singapore earlier this week, is excited to start this new chapter of his career, and has already set his sights on a fruitful voyage with the Sailors.
“I knew of the huge ambitions that the Sailors have in terms of wanting to change the football ecosystem in Singapore and to be amongst Asia’s elite clubs one day. That is what pushed me to come all the way here, as I want to be part of a team that makes history,” he said.
“I’m going to fight with the team and do all I can to make our fans happy. I want to be a league champion here, and help the Sailors progress in the continental competitions.”
Thank you, Richi
The Lion City Sailors have reached a mutual agreement with Richairo Živković to go our separate ways.
The 27-year-old forward, who joined the club in the middle of last season, was pivotal to the Sailors’ strong end to the 2023 campaign, as he finished as the club’s third-highest scorer last year with 15 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions.
Three of Richi’s goals came in the Sailors’ Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) campaign, which contributed to two memorable victories – a 2-1 win against Kitchee SC away in Hong Kong, as well as a 2-0 scalp of nine-time K League 1 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at home.
The former Ajax Amsterdam man also struck six times during the club’s first-ever Singapore Cup triumph, including a penalty that paved the way for a 3-1 triumph over Hougang United in the final. He ultimately ended the tournament as its joint-top scorer along with teammate Shawal Anuar.
We would like to thank Richi for his contributions to the club, and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.
Shawal withdraws from Lions squad
Lion City Sailors forward Shawal Anuar has withdrawn from the Singapore National Team squad that will face South Korea and Thailand in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Round 2 qualifiers in June.
The 33-year-old made the decision for personal reasons, as his expectant wife is due to deliver their third child in the same month.
Shawal, who made a great start to the 2024/25 season with three goals in as many matches, has been replaced by Ilhan Fandi in the squad.
That leaves six Sailors in Tsutomu Ogura’s Lions squad, with Zharfan Rohaizad, Christopher van Huizen, Lionel Tan, Hami Syahin, Song Uiyoung and captain Hariss Harun in line to face South Korea and Thailand on 6 and 11 June respectively.
We hereby wish Shawal and his family all the best during this special time.
Seven Lion City Sailors players have been named in Tsutomu Ogura’s 27-strong Singapore National Team squad that will face South Korea and Thailand in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Round 2 qualifiers in June.
Lions captain Hariss Harun along with four others – Lionel Tan, Song Uiyoung, Shawal Anuar, as well as custodian Zharfan Rohaizad – have kept their places after being called up for March’s double-header against China, which the Lions drew 2-2 and lost 4-1 in Ogura’s first matches in charge.
Should Hariss feature in both matches, he will pull level with Khairul Amri on 132 caps and be ranked joint-fourth in Singapore’s all-time record appearance makers behind Daniel Bennett, Shahril Ishak and Baihakki Khaizan.
Meanwhile, Christopher van Huizen (pictured above) and Hami Syahin return to the fold after strong starts to the 2024/25 season in which they started all three games so far for the Sailors – an opening 2-0 Community Shield win over Albirex Niigata (S), followed up by Singapore Premier League (SPL) victories against Hougang United and Young Lions.
The Lions will host a star-studded South Korea side at the National Stadium on Thursday, 6 June before facing Thailand away at the Rajamangala Stadium five days later.
The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team rounded off the month of May with another big victory, extending their winning streak to seven games as they thrashed BG Tampines Rovers 9-0 on Saturday (18 May) evening at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
The result means the Sailors will head into the month-long international break with a perfect record, while maintaining their three-point lead at the top of the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) table.
Equally impressive is that, with goals from Ho Hui Xin and Yuvika Suresh on Saturday, the Sailors now boast 14 different goalscorers this season, showcasing their diverse attacking threats.
Indeed, it was 15-year-old Yuvika who opened the scoring for the Sailors against Tampines in the sixth minute, tapping home Josephine Ang’s lay-off from close range to give her side the lead.
Reflecting on her goal, Yuvika, one of seven teenagers promoted from the club’s Girls Academy this season, said, “I didn’t expect the ball to come to me because I thought Josephine was going to take the shot. But I usually still make the run in case I need to get to the second ball. So when Josephine passed the ball to me, I knew I had to get a good connection on it.”
Josephine then turned from provider to goalscorer, scoring twice in quick succession. While her first strike was a straightforward finish from a Nur Syazwani Ruzi assist, her second goal, a long-range free-kick, was particularly eye-catching.
The match was as good as over as a contest by half-time, but the Sailors emerged from the break wanting more.
Within four minutes of the restart, Hui Xin scored her first goal of the season as she curled the ball into the bottom right corner after being teed up by Yuvika.
It was clear from Hui Xin’s exuberant celebrations that the goal meant a lot to her. She said, “Almost everyone has scored this season! We’ve been working a lot on shooting in training so it’s very satisfying to get a goal. I definitely hope to get on the scoresheet more this season.”
With the wind firmly in their sails, Daniel Ong’s side went onto rack up the goals with Cara Chang, current WPL top scorer Raeka Ee, Dorcas Chu and Madison Telmer all contributing to the scoreline to give it a shinier gloss.
When asked about the reasons behind the Sailors’ recent impressive form, Hui Xin attributed it to the team’s effective communication on the pitch and their disciplined positioning.
“We reminded each other that instructions should be communicated on the pitch to keep the game flowing. Whether you’re a senior or junior player, it’s important to speak up and provide guidance to your teammates,” she elaborated.
“It ensures that we all know what’s going on at all times, and move cohesively as a unit. As midfielders, we have a wide view of the pitch, so we can facilitate team movements effectively.
“This cohesion, supported by effective communication, within the midfield is crucial for the team. We play a pivotal role in coordinating attacks by moving forward together and in defensive situations by dropping back. Essentially, we act as the engine that drives the team forward.”
Despite the big win, Hui Xin is confident that the Sailors can still improve, and believes that the upcoming break will be the perfect opportunity for the team to refine their tactics even further.
She said, “It’s inevitable that there’ll be gaps in our formation when we attack due to our high-pressing style of play. We need to work on keeping possession better to prevent counter attacks.”
The Sailors will next take on Geylang International on Sunday, 23 June at ITE College East.
The relief on the Lion City Sailors bench at the end of what should have been a straightforward 90 minutes was palpable.
After all, the scoreline at the Bishan Stadium may have read 3-1 in favour of the Sailors over the Young Lions, but there was no mistaking the fact that on another day, the outcome could easily have been very different.
Ultimately, though, it was the Sailors’ tenacity, determination, and quality – especially in the final third – that made the difference, as Aleksandar Ranković’s men survived going down to 10 men to maintain their winning start to the 2024/2025 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.
Playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, the Sailors flew out of the blocks and dominated proceedings early on, with Hariss Harun and new signing Bart Ramselaar both coming close to opening the scoring.
It took just 19 minutes for the home side to make the breakthrough, as Shawal Anuar was set free down the left, and his pinpoint cross into the box was expertly volleyed by Maxime Lestienne past the despairing reach of Young Lions goalkeeper Umayr Sujuandy.
Bart – a constant threat to the Young Lions defence throughout the game – nearly doubled the Sailors’ lead just two minutes later, but his shot from the left was well kept out by Umayr.
But the Sailors did not have to wait too long for their next goal. In the 23rd minute, Bart found Maxime in acres of space down the right, and the Belgian sent an inviting low cross into the six-yard box for Shawal to tap the ball into an unguarded net.
Racing into an early two-goal lead, there were many at the Bishan Stadium who expected the Sailors to go on and rack up a heavy victory.
However, they allowed the Young Lions to settle into the affair and assert control over the game, much to Ranko’s chagrin.
“We started pretty well, got a 2-0 lead, then we just started doing some things that I wasn’t satisfied with,” Ranko said after the game. “I told the boys this is not the level we want to see. Of course, we’re happy with three points, but I’m not happy with how the team responded after going two goals up.”
Ranko’s misgivings turned out to be justified, as the visitors eventually reaped the rewards for their efforts in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
A long punt from defence set Itsuki Enomoto through on goal, but the 23-year-old had his ankles clipped by a recovering Bailey Wright before he could get his shot away.
A penalty was initially awarded to the Young Lions for the infringement, but after a lengthy VAR review, it was found that contact was made just outside the box, and a free-kick was given instead.
However, this also meant that Bailey, as the Sailors’ last man, was handed his marching orders for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
With a numerical advantage, the Young Lions emerged from the break with renewed vigour, almost halving the deficit within just two minutes. A cross from the left found substitute Raoul Suhaimi unmarked at the far post, but the 18-year-old completely fluffed his shot, sending the ball harmlessly wide for a goal kick.
Three minutes later, Rashid Hayek flicked a header that found Enomoto in a dangerous position. However, the Japanese striker was unable to generate enough power or accuracy in his header to beat Sailors goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad from close range.
The misses proved costly for the Young Lions, as in the 57th minute, the Sailors got the all-important third goal through Bart, whose deflected effort at the end of yet another devastating counter-attack looped over Umayr and into the back of the net.
“It was a really important goal because in the second half, they (Young Lions) played really well. We were one man down as well, so it was difficult for us, and I think that the goal came at a good moment because they had a few chances in the second half,” reflected the former PSV Eindhoven man.
Despite the setback, the Young Lions continued to press on, and they finally got on the scoresheet in the 64th minute through captain Farhan Zulkifli, who nodded home from close range after capitalising on a well-placed header from Kan Kobayashi into the six-yard box.
The Young Lions had another golden opportunity to reduce the deficit eight minutes from time, as former Sailor Nur Adam Abdullah raced to the byline on the left before sending in a low, hard cross into the box. However, Zharfan just managed to get a touch on the ball to disrupt an onrushing Enomoto, who slid in but somehow failed to divert the ball into the back of an empty net.
Minutes later, another dangerous cross from the left found Jun Kobayashi unmarked in the box, but his header sailed just wide of the post, as the Sailors hung on to secure a valuable win that keeps them top of the SPL.
It was a battling victory that Ranko believes showed the strength of character of this Sailors side.
“I have to compliment the boys for the character they showed because it’s not easy to play with 10 men, especially against this Young Lions team,” said Ranko.
“They (Young Lions) might still lack experience, but I’m certain they are going to pose problems for other teams in the league. However, I think we defended well, and it was important that we managed to score even with a man down.”
Bart, who was named Man of the Match, echoed Ranko’s sentiments, but added that the Sailors were always confident of getting the win.
“I wouldn’t say we were worried (that the Young Lions would equalise), but we knew we had to work very hard,” the Dutchman elaborated. “We did give them maybe too many chances in the second half, although I think we also created some good opportunities for ourselves.
“What certainly helped us was the wonderful atmosphere created by our fans – we were all motivated to fight and get the three points for them.”
The Sailors will have a short break in between matches, with their next SPL game scheduled for 15 June after the international break as they take on Brunei DPMM away at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.
