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Defiant Sailors plotting Jeonbuk revenge

Even as the Lion City Sailors trudged off the Jeonju World Cup Stadium some two weeks ago, they already had that look on their faces.  

The 3-0 defeat to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors that night stung, and it was clear that even as they dragged their feet off the pitch and into the dressing room in South Korea, the Sailors were plotting revenge.    

The Singapore Premier League’s representatives at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) line up against Jeonbuk, two-time ACL champions, on 8 November at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Matchday Four of the ACL 2023/24 group stage, and they are hell-bent on making amends. 

“I don’t think we did that bad. We tried to execute what we worked on in training, but a small mistake or lapse in concentration became crucial, as they do in games like these. 

“When you concede a goal in the first five minutes against a team that has such quality, things become very difficult,” said Manuel Herrera López (Súper), referring to Jun Amano’s 5th-minute opener on the night. 

 “If we had gone into half time 0-0, they would’ve been in a rush, possibly making mistakes and we could have had more chances.”

The 31-year-old has already set his mind on a specific goal in the rematch.

“Playing against their no. 10, the striker (1.93m tall Park Jae-yong) was one of the hardest challenges I’ve ever faced,” said Súper. 

“And I need revenge. 

“Every day since, I’ve been thinking about how I could have done better, and I’m sure my teammates are also thinking how they can improve, and help the team get a result.”

Christopher van Huizen is another who has revenge on his mind. 

“We could have kept better shape as a team and been stronger in one-on-one situations – especially me. I was quite disappointed with the way I played, especially because I was in quite good form for the previous one and a half months,” said the 30-year-old.

“I know one thing for sure, I’m not going to let this happen again.” 

With a clearer picture of how Jeonbuk set up, coupled with the factor of playing in front of a home crowd at Jalan Besar, Súper is certain that the Sailors can jettison the underdogs tag and go all out for a victory on Wednesday. 

“It’s going to be a different game here because it is hotter here than in Korea, the field is smaller and we are playing on an artificial surface. Jeonbuk play really nice football, but we are going to make it tough for them,” said the Spaniard. 

“I’m not talking about one point – we’re going for three. I’m an optimist and I want to get the win so that we can keep dreaming of qualifying for the Round of 16.”

The Sailors are three points behind second-placed Jeonbuk at the halfway mark in Group F and six behind leaders Bangkok United. A win is the perfect tonic to revive the Sailors’ chances of progression ahead of the final two group games. 

It is a fact not lost on Chris. 

“We came into the competition believing we can do something, and we know we could have done better thus far –  but we’re not giving up without a fight, even though it’s tough to get out of the group now,” said the Singapore international.

“Whenever we’re playing at home, we are pretty hyped and we’re going to draw on that energy from the crowd to push ourselves beyond our limits. It’s about keeping our shape, encouraging each other and keeping our heads screwed on throughout the 90 minutes.

“Let’s do that and see where it gets us.”

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Sailors weather stormy 2023 to defend WPL title

When the final whistle was blown at the Clementi Stadium, the stands erupted in wild cheers before chants of “Campeones” rang out, lauding the eleven players that made up the entire matchday squad of the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team on Sunday (5 November). 

The evening’s resounding 11-0 victory over Geylang International saw the women seal the Deloitte Women’s Premier League title for the second year running, and there was a mix of joy and relief. 

The team weathered a tough 2023, losing several players to long-term injuries while others headed overseas on football scholarships. The Sailors have had to dig deep several times all season, with last night proving a unique challenge – the women only managed 11 players on the day, and not all of them were fully fit. 

“I already told the players that we should enjoy these two matches because for the whole season, we’ve been struggling with different challenges,” said Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan, who was effusive with praise for her players. 

The Sailors got off to an energetic start, with Lila Tan taking two shots at goal and Josephine Ang hitting the woodwork. 

“Initially, it was quite hard to break down the defence because they packed the middle,” said captain Ho Hui Xin. “I told the team at the start that if there is a half-chance, we have to take it.”

The team’s patient build-up play was rewarded in the 12th minute after Julia Farr hammered in the opening goal from the left flank. 

Still working through rehabilitation for a knee injury, the early goal provided the German a big confidence boost. 

“I haven’t played a full match in a while and knowing I could get some tackles did make me a bit nervous,” said Julia. “But everybody was amazingly supportive, kept pushing me, helping me and cheering me — that helped tremendously.”

In the 20th minute, fullback-turned-centre back Nur Syazwani Ruzi sent a delightful through-ball to Miray Altun on the right flank, beating the entire Eagles defence. Miray calmly slotted home the Sailors’ second goal of the night. 

A Geylang handball in the box gave the Sailors a 32nd-minute penalty, with Josephine converting from the spot to pick up her first goal of the evening. She later scored another two goals to snag her first WPL hat-trick. 

Josephine is now the team’s third-highest scorer with seven goals, only behind Miray who has eight and Nur Izzati Rosni who netted 12. 

“I think that we are really a team,” Sheau Shyan said. “We are passing the ball around trying to find the free player. It’s not about who is a good goal-scorer, but who is in the correct position.”

Before half-time, Julia bagged another goal while Lila capitalised on a smart switch in play to send the Sailors 5-0 up going into the break. 

“It was definitely such a good feeling, especially after coming back from a five-month injury break,” said Julia, after her two-goal showing. “I just kept telling myself: do what you can and try to enjoy the game. Try to help the team and keep it simple. Focus on the basics and then see what I can do.”

In the second half, skipper Hui Xin and mid-season signing Nica Siy each picked up their first goals of the season. The Sailors now boast 19 different goal-scorers in this season, testament to the depth and clinical finishing across the entire squad. 

Teenager Madelin Lock also got herself on the scoresheet in the 58th minute, after a solid performance in the Sailors midfield. The 16-year-old played a big role in relentlessly switching plays across both flanks, consistently opening up pockets of space for her teammates. 

Miray then secured a brace for herself after firing a spectacular shot into the top corner in the 71st minute. 

“Everybody knows their roles and responsibilities,” Hui Xin said. “As captain, I only had to remind everybody about the game plan, because everybody carried their weight tonight.”

Looking ahead, Hui Xin acknowledged that their next match against Hougang United, currently ranked third in the league, a fortnight later on 19 November will be a stern test. 

“At the end of the day, we are a team and can be very proud to have overcome so many different challenges and obstacles this year,” added Julia. 

“We always believed that we could win the league again and, after a lot of hard work from everyone, here we are.”

 

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Josephine: Discipline and composure key against Geylang

After last weekend’s (29 October) 3-0 win against second-placed Albirex Niigata (S), the Sailors propelled themselves seven points clear at the top of the 10-team Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) table. 

With just three games left to play in the WPL 2023 season, that hard-fought victory now gives the Sailors the opportunity to seal back-to-back WPL titles this Sunday (5 November), if they beat Geylang International at Clementi Stadium. 

In a challenging season that saw several key players sit out with long-term injuries and others leaving in mid-season to either further their studies or go on scholarships, several youngsters – seven in total – stepped up and into the spotlight after being promoted from the Sailors Girls’ Academy. 

One of them is Josephine Ang, who will always remember the moment Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan told her she was going to be promoted to the WPL team.

“It was very shocking to me, but I knew I had to make Coach Sheau Shyan proud because she really believed in me from the start. She talked to me about the discipline and the commitment I need to have in order to be in the senior team,” said the 17-year-old forward. 

There is little doubt that Josephine has come a long way as a player, but it is the team ethic and unity that makes her heart swell with pride. 

“We lost many players due to long-term injuries and instead of us being negative about it, we worked even harder to get closer to the WPL title. The team has put in an incredible amount of effort this year – it’s surreal,” said the teenager, who already has four goals in her debut WPL campaign. 

“The Albirex game last weekend was one of my proudest moments. The whole team worked hard and fought for one another. I saw my teammates score while I was on the bench and I’ve never been more proud of my team.”

Josephine called for discipline and composure as the women prepare to take what could be the final step up to be crowned champions this Sunday.

“We must treat this game like any other game but we cannot be complacent,” she explained. “We need to stick to Coach Sheau Shyan’s game plan, play to our strengths – keeping the ball in tight areas and being able to switch it out – and play with a higher intensity too.”

Lila Tan, who has three years on her younger teammate, has already established herself as one of the Sailors’ senior players. She is confident that the team has what it takes to get the job done on Sunday.

“I believe with an optimistic mentality and a strong team cohesion, we will be able to remain composed and execute our game plan,” she said. 

“I do still get pre-match jitters, but I am eager to simply play my part in the team to get us that win. We have been pushing ourselves for the potential title at training and I’m confident we will implement what we have learned.”

Lila has watched the young ones come into the team this year, and the 20-year-old has enjoyed seeing them grow into their respective roles. 

“It has been such a privilege to play with the juniors, they are full of spirit and determination,” gushed Lila. 

“There is a growing unity between the juniors and the seniors, and I think it’s also important that we are having fun at training sessions – that can only help us improve as a team, and consistently get results, like we aim to do on Sunday.”

 

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A burning desire and yearning to push the Sailors among Asia’s elite

He was called up to the Belgium national team at the age of 21, scored in the Italian Serie A as Genoa famously beat Inter Milan 3-2 and even played a starring role in PSV Eindhoven’s upset of English powerhouse Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League (UCL). 

There is little doubt, Maxime Lestienne has stood under the bright lights of big-time European football – and shone. 

Speaking under the orange glow of lights at our makeshift studio – a repurposed briefing room – at the Lion City Sailors Training Centre on Mattar Road, it was clear that the fire in his belly that helped him hit those heady heights still burns strong.

Maxime is now 31 and well into his second Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) campaign with the Sailors but there is a real drive to push boundaries, and this time, pull the Sailors along his football adventure. 

“It’s very important not just for me, but also the supporters. In football, we always need to have a big objective and that’s the one we have as a team,” said Maxime, of helping the Sailors become the first Singapore side to qualify for the ACL Round of 16. 

“I believe we can still do it – and it’ll be a big moment for us.”

Maxime inspired PSV to victory over Louis van Gaal’s Man United Class of 2015, and also scored a brace in the Dutch side’s 3-2 defeat to CSKA Moscow in that UCL season. The opportunity to now make his mark in the ACL, Asia’s equivalent elite club competition, remains a big motivation. 

“The ambition of the club is why I decided to come and there are no regrets, I’m very happy here. Last year, not a lot of people know of the Lion City Sailors and we made something in the ACL although we didn’t qualify,” he said of his debut campaign last year. 

The Sailors beat Korean side Daegu FC 3-0 en route to a seven-point finish. 

The Belgian has not looked back and is relishing the challenge of guiding the Sailors into the Asian football spotlight. 

“This year, we’re not a surprise package anymore, so we have to work and show why we deserve to be here. We’re not here just for Sailors’ fans, we also want to make Singapore proud,” he added.

Having experienced last year’s pandemic-enforced centralised tournament format ACL, Maxime is loving this season’s home-and-away format that brings out the best elements – and colourful fan culture – of Asian football. 

He said: “Last year, we stayed almost a month together in Thailand and couldn’t see our families. Now it’s better, we can play in front of our fans: I have to say the atmosphere was amazing when we played Bangkok United at Jalan Besar. 

“And it’s also nice for us as a team to experience playing against an away crowd when we played against Kitchee SC. We were also touched to see the support from our fans who travelled to Hong Kong. When you’re on the pitch, you do want to give a bit more for them and those watching on TV.”

To Maxime, the 2023/24 ACL campaign is bringing the best out of the Sailors as he lauds the raised levels that come with competitions like these. 

“I can feel and even see that we’re more focused and motivated before games, because we know the importance of this competition to the club. We must give more than what we give normally; we have to be very organised on the pitch and be compact as a team,” noted Maxime.

“For myself, I have to defend more even if I don’t like it. Obviously the intensity in the European competition is a bit faster, but there are good teams and good players in Asia – Urawa Red Diamonds is an example,” said Maxime of the defending ACL champions the Sailors faced in the 2022 campaign. 

“And it’s nice to see how we’re all stepping up as a team for the higher levels we face in the ACL.” 

Maxime may be stealing the headlines with sensational performances in his second year as a Sailor, chalking up the most goals (25) and assists (21) in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), but he is adamant that it is the spirit of the Class of 2023 that is most important facet of the Sailors. 

“I’m not the leader of the team,” he insisted. “This team works in a way where everybody can speak; you can say something and everyone will listen to you. We’ve got some fantastic young players here, and they are not afraid to step up and take responsibility to lead the team.  

“We even have players as young as 15, 16 joining our squad this season and making their debuts – they’ve worked really hard to get to be here. I remember being in the first team in Belgium (with Mouscron) at 16 and it’s the same – I worked very hard to achieve my dream and every young player should be doing this.”

Under the tutelage of Aleksandar Ranković and his blend of promising youngsters and experienced campaigners, the Sailors squad has been in pretty good form the last couple of months, from the SPL then into the Singapore Cup, and also getting a gritty away win against Kitchee in the ACL earlier in October. 

It is a fact that delights Maxime. 

“It’s so fun to be in this team, with the foreign players offering not only different qualities but a different experience from where we used to play at. All of us try to give something to the team and have blended very well with the locals – now I feel that I’m already a local!” he joked.

“Coach Ranko’s technically a very good coach; he tries to apply what he learnt in Europe to give to us – how to build up, how to be tactical. Maybe in the first two weeks (when he first took over), it was a bit difficult to understand. But now everyone understands what he wants from us and we’re enjoying every single day in training.” 

At the halfway mark of the Sailors’ Group F campaign with three points and a battling chance of still making it into the knockout stages, Maxime insists there is no inferior complexity when the Sailors compete in the ACL and is determined to push all the way. 

“We have no reason to fear anyone and second place is still up for grabs. We have to play with confidence – not scared, not stressed about losing – we must enjoy the game and work hard as a team. It’s important that after the game, when we reflect,  we know we gave everything.

“We know we have enough quality to beat teams in front of us, we just have to go out there to play,” said Maxime.  

“If we can consistently play like we did in the first half against Kitchee, I think we can qualify.”

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Clinical team performance against rivals Albirex bring Sailors closer to back-to-back WPL titles

The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team channelled nerves into a rousing 3-0 victory over Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) title rivals Albirex Niigata (S) at Clementi Stadium on Sunday night (29 October), opening up a seven-point gap between them and the second-placed White Swans. 

The result means Sailors can potentially clinch back-to-back WPL titles next Sunday (5 November) against Geylang International, with the women needing just another three points to open an unassailable lead at the top of the 10-team standings.

“Everyone was nervous and it was stressful because we knew we had to win,” said Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan. “Our objective was to be efficient in attack today, to go around the midfield and play down the flanks.”

With teenager Madelin Lock signalling the Sailors’ attacking intent with a shot from distance in the second minute of the game, the stage looked set, but the White Swans responded strongly. 

Albirex were hot on the charge in the following ten minutes, forcing the Sailors to work together and fend off the Japanese side’s quick attacking play, even managing to produce convincing counter-attacking opportunities in response. 

“We knew that Albirex was stronger than us in the air so we had to make sure we challenged every ball,” said Sheau Shyan. “Beatrice did very well to claim a few.”  

Sheau Shyan and the Sailors had Beatrice Tan to thank, the goalkeeper pulling off a string of fine saves to keep her team in the game, especially with Albirex’s 2015 FIFA World Cup silver medallist, Kana Kitahara, looking threatening in front of goal.  

Even with a spectacular point-blank save off a Kana header in the 15th minute, Beatrice was quick to give credit to her teammates for their defensive work. 

“I think it was Izzati (Rosni) who covered the gap,” Beatrice said. “The Albirex player didn’t get a clean header and therefore I was able to make the save. Without that, it would have been a different story.”

That save provided the Sailors a sturdy platform to go forward in search of goals to secure the three points, and that all-important first goal came in the 19th minute. 

Mid-season signing Cara Chang took a cheeky free kick — smashing the ball under the wall of jumping defenders — for the Sailors’ first goal on the night and that was already the 14-year-old’s fifth goal in a promising start to her WPL career. 

A few minutes later, an incisive through-ball from Sailors’ top-scorer Izzati set Miray Altun free on the right flank. Miray then calmly lobbed the ball over the Albirex keeper for her sixth goal of the campaign to double the Sailors’ lead. 

In the 40th minute, Madelin rounded off a clinical first half from the Sailors with a goal of her own to put the Sailors firmly in the driver’s seat at the Clementi Stadium.

“It’s great that all three goals came from three different players, as it shows the versatility of the team,” Beatrice said. “We don’t rely on a single player. We work together as a team.”

The Sailors switched gears in the second half, with Sheau Shyan directing the team to play a more controlled game to preserve the three-goal lead. 

“For the second half, we were keeping our advantage and not over-committing in attack. We had to hold back because we are usually very attacking-minded,” said Sheau Shyan. 

“In the end, the team did what was needed — the boring job that was necessary.”

Central defender Sara Hayduchok put in a gutsy performance in the heart of the Sailors’ defence, shutting down several probing Albirex attacks, especially in the second period, but for Beatrice it was the team ethic and commitment to the game plan that were key to victory. 

“Everybody always says the same thing about how we stick to the game plan, but it’s really, really true,” said the 31-year-old, who has still conceded just one goal all season. “Coach gave us a plan and everybody stuck to every detail of it, from the corners to the opponents’ goal kick.”

The clean sheet against Albirex is an important personal milestone for Beatrice. Over the last few weeks, the Sailors’ custodian was in recovery mode, nursing a back injury that she had picked up during the national team’s loss to North Korea at the recent Hangzhou Asian Games. 

“It feels good to be back, fully fit. I’m really thankful for the support system at the club, including sports trainers Vincent Teo and Lucas Tay for helping me get back on track.”

Beatrice and her Sailors will be looking for the win next week against Geylang to defend the WPL title they won — as Invincibles — in 2022. And even if the Sailors do secure the WPL title next week, Sheau Shyan has set her team’s sights on repeating that feat. 

“We have one more target on top of the title,” said Sheau Shyan.

“We want to be unbeaten — again.”

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Wani: Mind over matter key in White Swans showdown

The chase has been on all season. The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team and their counterparts from Albirex Niigata (S) have both tasted the air at the summit of the 2023 Deloitte Women’s Premier League table, but it is the Sailors who have stood their ground at the top since late July. 

This Sunday (29 October) at Clementi Stadium, the Sailors and second-placed Albirex separated by four points in the table will vie for the three points that will alter the complexion of the WPL title race. 

Should the Sailors win, they will put one hand in the trophy, with a seven-point lead and just three games left to play. However, a loss means Albirex will be breathing down their necks being just a point behind. 

Yeong Sheau Shyan’s side have been soldiering on despite recent issues with injuries and player unavailability, and defender Nur Syazwani Ruzi believes the team’s strong mentality is a key asset that will pull them through another tough obstacle. 

“It’s mind over matter at this point. No matter the numbers, we will still play and everything will fall into place,” said the right-back.

“We make do with the players we have and the backroom staff have worked very hard to ensure we recover properly after every match so that we go into the next one in the best condition.”

The 22-year-old finds herself as the team’s top-scoring defender. She has already bagged three goals this season. 

“It felt good as I told myself I want to score more this season, since I only scored one in our title-winning season in 2022,” she said, referring to her clutch injury-time penalty conversion to lead the team to a 1-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United two weeks ago

The Sailors have largely brought their dominance of last season forward into 2023, with 13 wins and one draw in 14 matches this campaign. 

That blot in what would have been a perfect record stings.

The White Swans was the only team that were able to take points off the Sailors when both sides last met in June – an injury-time equaliser by Tina Afrida helped Albirex collect a valuable 1-1 draw.

“It (that game) does really bother me, but we do make mistakes and we can only learn from them. It’s going be a crucial game this weekend and we will give 110% to win,” said Wani.

Sailors’ top-scorer, Nur Izzati Rosni, echoes her teammate’s thoughts. 

“It certainly dissatisfies me to think about it, especially because we played very well and had numerous scoring opportunities. We should have won that game,” said the striker, who has 12 goals this season. 

“But we didn’t, so we simply need to move on, concentrate on playing better and convert chances into goals in the next game. I want to beat them, and we must approach the game with discipline and focus in order to do that.” 

With the experience of playing against numerous countries and clubs throughout her career, Izzati knows all too well the importance of adapting to an opponent’s style of play.

Albirex have strengthened much in the mid-season transfer window, with the addition of players like Marina Asada and Sierra Castles to complement league-leading scorer Kana Kitahara (17 goals) in the attacking third. 

“Albirex has talented players, but their style of play differs from our preferred possession-based football. It will therefore be difficult for us. We have been working hard to get better at both our own style and how we handle opponents on the field,” she explained.

“At this point, everything depends on our ability to take this to the field and carry out our game plan. We are ready, and I have no doubt that we can get the job done.”

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We lost to a better team: Ranko

Last April, the Lion City Sailors beat K League 1 side Daegu FC 3-0 for a historic first win in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL)

But there was no repeat of those heroics on Wednesday night (24 October) as the Sailors fell to a 3-0 loss to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in their ACL 2023/24 Group F clash at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium. 

A disappointed Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković admitted his charges were beaten by a better team in their second ACL defeat of the season.

“Congratulations to Jeonbuk, they deserved this victory tonight. The result was a tough pill to swallow, even though we knew even before the game they had quality in their ranks,” said the Serbian, who acknowledged the gulf between the two teams.

“It was a difficult game and we were struggling especially in the first half. When you concede two very easy goals early on, you know it’s going to be a long evening ahead.” 

It was indeed a long evening for the Sailors’ faithful, some of whom were present in the away section at Jeonju. In front of a boisterous partisan crowd of more than 4,800 fans, Jeonbuk took the lead after five minutes.  

Japanese midfielder Jun Amano who was the only foreign player to start for Jeonbuk on the night curled an accurate left-footed shot from range into Zharfan Rohaizad’s bottom corner to stun the Sailors. 

Up against a defence marshalled by Jeong Tae-uk and Hong Jeong-Ho, the likes of Maxime Lestienne and Richairo Živković found it tough to get a sniff of the ball as the Sailors struggled to get their engine into gear.  

The Sailors would find themselves two goals down on 33 minutes, with defender Lionel Tan inadvertently turning home Lee Dong-jun’s cross into his own net. 

Just before the interval, the visitors mustered their only shot on target all night, with Maxime’s near-post effort kept out by Jeonbuk custodian Kim Jeong-Hoon. 

In a bid to add firepower upfront, forward Shawal Anuar came on in place of Lionel at the break, but the move did not manage to spark life into the Sailors. 

Instead, it was South Korean international Moon Seon-min who would go on to seal the three points for two-time ACL winners Jeonbuk in the 57th minute. 

The former Djurgårdens IF man capitalised on a Zharfan spilled cross, to tap the loose ball into an empty net to make it 3-0, a scoreline that remained until the final whistle. 

The result means the Sailors remain third in Group F with three points in as many games. Jeonbuk move into second, three points behind leaders Bangkok United who ran out 2-1 winners over Kitchee SC in the night’s other Group F fixture.  

Both sides set to face off again at Singapore’s Jalan Besar Stadium in two weeks’ time on November 8. 

Despite the defeat, Ranko is certain his charges can only grow from this experience.  

“I told my players in the dressing room: they can get better by playing in games like these. We can learn a lot from today, especially when it comes to the intensity of the game,” he pointed out. 

“We might have lost today, but we still have one more game and it will be a different game playing at home with the artificial turf and weather. If there was one positive from today, it would be that we didn’t pick up any new injuries or red cards.” 

Wide man Hafiz Nor agreed. 

“It was a disappointing result for us tonight, but I’m hopeful that we can get a positive result with the home advantage in our next game,” said the 35-year-old, who came on as a 67th-minute substitute. 

“We are thankful to the fans who showed up in Korea. They cheered us on regardless of the result and they will be crucial again when we face Jeonbuk back in Singapore.”

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Mamat: We’re here to show Singapore football can compete against the best

On paper, the odds are stacked against the Lion City Sailors. 

The Singapore side are making just their second foray into the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL), and will stand across two-time ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the South Korean outfit’s own Jeonju World Cup Stadium. 

But the stoic Sailors are unfazed.  

“Jeonbuk is undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in Asia, but we came here to compete and show what Singapore football can do. We believe we’re capable of playing good football, even against the best in the region,” said defender Zulqarnaen Suzliman, who started in the Sailors’ first two Group F ACL games. 

Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković sang from the same hymn book. 

“Jeonbuk is a big club with a lot of tradition in the AFC Champions League, with physically very strong players, local players who are playing at the highest level for South Korea and a very experienced coach as well. We’re here as a new club trying to represent the best of Singapore football,” said the 45-year-old. 

“But we’re ready to come here and compete – my players are ready for this challenge and we’re not intimidated.”

A tough trek into Jeonju

Barely 12 hours after Saturday’s (21 October) 4-1 win over Tanjong Pagar United to put one foot into the Singapore Cup semi-finals, Ranko’s men hopped on a six-and-a-half hour flight to Incheon and then had to travel another four hours by bus before settling into Jeonju-si late on Sunday night. 

Issues with training grounds on Monday saw the Sailors improvise, training on the artificial surface at Deokjin Sports Park, a public football facility owned by the Jeonju City Sports Council, and even had to clear the pitch due to prior bookings made by a local amateur group. 

The Korean autumn has not helped. 

Average temperatures hovers between 18°C and 7°C with the Sailors backroom staff hard at preparation before the trip to make sure the players are acclimatised. Thermal innerwear and winter jackets have been provided for each player, with this the first time most of the Sailors’ local footballers are playing under such conditions. 

But Zulqarnaen (Mamat) is adamant the unfamiliar climate will not deter their drive to put on a good performance.

“After a few days here, we’re getting used to things. This weather is actually perfect for football – it’s not too cold and we don’t sweat as much compared to when we’re playing in Singapore,” he said.

“We’re just focused on what we want to achieve as a team. This is a big game – a tough test – for us and we’re going in with everything we’ve got to make our fans proud.”

To say that it is a tough test is no understatement. 

Up against an Asian giant

Jeonbuk – semi-finalists at last season’s ACL – are Asian football royalty.

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal have the most ACL titles winning the tournament four times. Pohang Steelers (South Korea) and Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) have three each, while Jeonbuk have won Asia’s flagship club competition twice – in 2006 and 2016 – while finishing runners-up in 2011. 

They are amongst the most successful teams in K League 1 and have been champions a total of nine times – including a string of five consecutive titles from 2017 to 2021. 

Players who have suited up for them in the past includes the legendary Lee Dong-gook, current Bayern Munich star Kim Min-jae and forward Cho Gue-sung who featured at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for South Korea. 

Jeonbuk’s current squad features much talent as well. Current South Korea internationals include the likes of Kim Jin-su, Moon Seon-min (pictured below) as well as Paik Seung-ho who scored a long-range screamer against Brazil at the Qatar World Cup. 

But they have wobbled a little this season, seeing former coach Kim Sang-sik stepping down in May, and languishing in mid-table for portions of the 2023 K League 1 season. 

A surprise 3-2 defeat to Thailand’s Bangkok United on the last ACL matchday meant the Thai side currently lead Group F with six points, with Jeonbuk level on three points with the Sailors. 

Jeonbuk’s upturn in form

However, they have been on a mini-renaissance since then. Jeonbuk defeated FC Seoul 2-0 on the final day of the 33-round Regular K League 1 season, finishing within the top six to clinch a spot in Final A – where they will play another five matches within the group to determine their final position. 

In their first match in Final A last week, they struck a last-gasp winner to down Daegu FC 2-1 to go into this game brimming with confidence. 

Their bid for the three points against the Sailors are boosted by the return of five players who missed the first two matchdays due to their Asian Games participation with South Korea’s Under-23 side. 

Paik captained the young Taegeuk Warriors to a 2-1 victory over Japan in the final, alongside the likes of goalkeeper Kim Jeong-hoon, defender Park Jin-seop, midfielder Song Min-kyu and forward Park Jae-yong. 

Head Coach Dan Petrescu is adamant that they put on a strong display at home after failing to win all four (two draws and two losses) of their last home games in domestic football. 

“Tomorrow is a really important game for Jeonbuk because of the loss in Thailand. I want to see a very good reaction from the players. While I want my team to be offensive, I want them to control the game and have balance,” said Petrescu. 

“We’ve shown in our last two games that if we concentrate, other teams will find it hard to score against us,” added the Chelsea legend, who was appointed only on 9 June. 

“But it won’t be an easy game, the Sailors have top national players who play for Singapore and some very good foreigners. So we definitely have to play good in defence to win the game.”

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Feature

Battleground Korea: Next on the Sailors’ ACL adventure, Jeonju World Cup Stadium

In Battlegrounds Asia, we look into the history and lore of the stadiums that will host the Lion City Sailors’ second foray into the AFC Champions League (ACL), Asia’s top-tier club competition. 

In the second part of this series, we dive headfirst into the Jeonju World Cup Stadium where the Sailors will line up against two-time ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

 

In the picturesque South Korean city of Jeonju – a four-hour bus journey from Seoul – sits a physical manifestation of the city’s rich sporting heritage and its love for football – the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, one of the 10 stadiums constructed for the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. 

Real local flavour

The Stadium – which cost 133.1 billion Korean won (approximately SGD$135.3 million) to construct – was built with tradition in mind: the design of its roof and stands were inspired by the Hapjukseon, the traditional Korean fan. 

The pillars of the Stadium’s fan-shaped roof are a metaphor for Sotdae, in Korean tradition, a pole erected as a talisman for well-being, protection, and a good harvest; while its 12 tensile cables embody the 12 strings of Korean musical instrument, the Gayageum.

The stadium can host some 43,000 spectators.

And this is perhaps where the city’s love for sports and its physical manifestation of that spirit come together in a simple, but beautiful intersection: from the stadium’s rooftop park, visitors can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Jeonju city and its surroundings.

World Cup and ACL heritage

Officially opened on 8th November 2001, the Stadium hosted three FIFA World Cup matches – two group-stage games that saw Spain defeat Paraguay 3-1 and Portugal beat Poland 4-0, before a Round-of-16 match welcoming 36,380 fans who watched the United States defeat Mexico 2-0. 

The Jeonju World Cup Stadium has been home to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors since its official opening, witnessing several football moments over the years. 

But strangely – despite winning the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) twice – Jeonbuk have never lifted the continental trophy in front of their own fans. In 2006 and 2016, they beat Syria’s Al-Karamah and UAE’s Al-Ain in the first leg of the respective finals at home before sealing the triumph in the away legs. 

In 2011, when the final was held as a one-off affair to be hosted by one of the finalists, decided by draw, Jeonbuk were heavy favourites to win in front of a passionate 41,805-strong home crowd. But opponents, Qatar’s Al-Sadd, stunned the hosts by winning on penalties after an enthralling 2-2 extra-time draw. 

International focus

The Jeonju World Cup Stadium has been the scene of football dreams of young upstarts as well. 

In 2017, the venue hosted 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup matches – including a memorable match that saw the Taegeuk Warriors claim a 2-1 group-stage win over an Argentina side that featured Juan Foyth and Gonzalo Montiel who went on to win the 2022 World Cup alongside Lionel Messi.  

The football world’s attention again turned to Jeonju in May 2020 when the K League 1 became the first major competition to resume following the global Covid-19 shutdown, with the legendary Lee Dong-gook scored a late winner against Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

A year later, the Stadium hosted the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the 2021 ACL. 

The knockout stages of the tourney were hosted in a single location, with Pohang Steelers beating Nagoya Grampus 3-0 while Ulsan Hyundai got the better of Jeonbuk 3-2 to advance to the ACL semi-finals. Pohang then emerged victorious over Ulsan at the venue to reach the final. 

The Jeonju World Cup Stadium has also served as a venue for Korean cultural events, concerts, and festivals. And it hosted the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Masters Games earlier this year in May, a unique sports-for-all festival aimed at driving sports participation across abilities and ages. 

The Stadium was scheduled to host a K-pop concert in August as part of the World Scout Jamboree cultural programme, but concerns over Typhoon Khanun saw the event going elsewhere. 

But football remains at the heart of the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, perhaps fuelled by the Mad Green Boys of the Jeonbuk Motors Supporters’ Club who are known to generate an electric atmosphere at the North Stand of the Stadium that feature safe-standing areas. 

In Jeonju on Wednesday, Hariss Harun and the Sailors Class of 2023 will, for the first time, play at a venue that has hosted a historic FIFA World Cup match, with The Crew’s Special Operations Team screaming from the Stadium’s South stand as our Sailors look to write history of our own.

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News

Six goals and a big step closer to second straight WPL title

The Lion City Sailors Women came away with a routine 6-0 win against Balestier Khalsa in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Sunday (22 October).

The result at Choa Chu Kang Stadium meant Yeong Sheau Shyan’s Sailors remained top of the WPL standings with 40 points, four ahead of second-placed Albirex Niigata (36), the Sailors’ opponents next Sunday (29 Oct).

Against Balestier, the defending WPL champions got off to a lacklustre start but recovered well to dispatch their opponents comfortably. 16-year-old Madelin Lock also got on a WPL scoresheet for the first time with two goals to her name.

Sheau Shyan was delighted with a win that will provide a much needed confidence boost ahead of the Albirex clash.

“We needed this result today, we were a bit slow in the beginning but the second half was a much better performance and we’re happy with that,” the 45-year-old said.

“We saw the younger players being able to keep the ball well, especially in the middle of the park. I didn’t expect them to adapt as quickly as they’ve done, but technically and tactically, they’re as good as the older players.”

Four players promoted from the academy this season featured for the Sailors on Sunday: Tia Foong, Madelin included in the first eleven, while Cara Chang and Josephine Ang came off the bench.

Balestier enjoyed early possession, but the Sailors grew into the game, and took the lead in the 28th minute. 

Miray Altun received a pass down the right flank and her cutback was diverted by Izzati Rosni into Madelin’s path. The midfielder sent a looping shot over Balestier goalkeeper Tan Eng Chiu, becoming the Sailors’ 17th different goalscorer for this WPL season.

Eight minutes later, the Sailors doubled their advantage after Izzati received the ball inside the box, took a touch and slotted it into the bottom corner for her 12th goal of the season. 

The team started the second half with more control, and dominated proceedings even though they only opened the floodgates in the 71st minute.

14-year-old Cara, who had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes, curled the ball into the top corner for her fourth goal of the season, this after being played through by fellow substitute, Josephine.

Another three goals in the space of eight minutes then put the game to bed. Balestier’s Seri Nurhidayah turned the ball into her own net in the 77th minute, before Madelin netted her second of the night four minutes later. 

Miray then finished off a counter-attacking move in the 85th minute for her fifth goal of the campaign to seal an emphatic Sailors’ win.

For Madelin, the goals provided an added boost, the match is only her second since returning from an injury sustained on 5 August.

“I am exhilarated, it’s amazing to score, especially because I’m more used to assisting my teammates,” she said.

“I’m thankful to my physios, for helping me get me back to full fitness, and my teammates for being patient with me throughout my rehabilitation.”

Despite the big win, Sheau Shyan was acutely aware that there is still everything to play for in the WPL, with a top of the table clash against Albirex around the corner.

“Sunday’s match will probably be the deciding match of the season, and we’re going all out to try and win,” she said. 

“We know what we’ve set out to do and we want to win every match left this season.”