Category: News
Diogo Costa is one of just two players — alongside Toni Datković — to have started every match for the Lion City Sailors in the 2025/26 season so far.
The Portuguese full-back has been a model of consistency, featuring in all seven matches across all competitions and contributing a goal and two assists along the way.
In the Sailors’ previous Singapore Premier League (SPL) outing against Tanjong Pagar United on 22 September, Diogo netted his first-ever league goal since joining the club in January.
Bart Ramselaar displayed some neat, intricate play near the touchline before squaring the ball for Diogo to apply the finishing touch to a flowing team move.
“It’s always good to score your first league goal,” recalled Diogo. “The most important thing is to help the team, whether that’s through goals, assists or defending, but naturally, I’m an offensive-minded player.”
The last time Diogo found the net in league action prior to his move to Singapore was for FC Famalicão in Portugal’s Liga Revelação, when he struck a free-kick winner against SC Braga in November 2024.
Since joining the Sailors, the 22-year-old has earned plaudits for his all-round performances in both domestic and continental competitions, prompting the club to turn his initial loan into a permanent five-year deal at the start of July — a clear sign of faith in his long-term potential.
“This place has very quickly become my new home,” he said. “Settling in after my permanent move hasn’t been difficult. I’m very happy to be spending the next five years here, so let’s see what happens.
“Of course, it’s always nice to get some numbers up early in the season as goals and assists help with confidence.”
Buoyed by back-to-back wins, the Sailors will look to extend their good run of results when they host the Young Lions in this weekend’s SPL fixture at the Bishan Stadium.
It will be the Sailors’ first league match at Bishan this season, with their last outing at the venue ending in a thrilling 4-2 victory over Malaysia’s Selangor FC in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two Group G opener on 1 October.
Having started the domestic campaign with three wins out of three, the reigning SPL champions will be eager to maintain their perfect record before a midweek ACL Two trip to Thailand to face Bangkok United next Thursday (23 October).
The Young Lions, however, will not be pushovers. Apart from being bolstered by Brazilian duo Abner Vinicius and Sérgio Mendonça, as well as a number of promising Singaporean talents, they also feature several Sailors Academy prospects on loan, including Enrico Silveira, Henry Spence and Marcus Mosses.
“I trained with them quite a few times last season, so I know they have a lot of quality,” said Diogo, who recorded four assists in just two league encounters against the Young Lions last season. “But we’re aware of the job we need to do on Saturday to get the three points.”
Nonetheless, confidence is high in the Sailors’ camp, with seven players recently returning from international duty after featuring in Singapore’s brilliant 2-1 comeback win away against India, which kept their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualification hopes alive.
(Photo: Football Association of Singapore)
Song Uiyoung’s brace in Goa saw Singapore go level on points with Hong Kong, China at the top of Group C, with two matches remaining.
“Personally, I don’t like the long international breaks, so it’s great to have the whole squad back together,” said Diogo. “Our win against Selangor at the start of the month was a big one, and it’ll be the same mood in the dressing room regardless of who’s on the pitch.
“We’ll fight together for a common goal again and continue our winning run in the SPL.”
The Lion City Sailors Women ended their 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign with a 1-1 draw against Geylang International on Sunday (5 October) evening at Choa Chu Kang Stadium — a result that saw them finish third in the table with 36 points.
The Sailors looked on course for a final-day win when Dhaniyah Qasimah calmly converted a penalty in the 83rd minute, but their joy was short-lived. Four minutes later, Geylang’s Farhanah Ruhaizat struck a brilliant long-range equaliser to deny them all three points.
“It was tough, and there were glimpses of us pressing well, but it was just not enough,” reflected Dhaniyah. “The biggest lesson today is to play to the final whistle and never let your guard down when you’re leading. Football is 90 minutes, and anything can happen.”
The Sailors started brightly and came close to scoring in the 10th minute when Farah Nurzahirah forced Geylang goalkeeper Fadhilah Hassan into a save, sparking a goalmouth scramble that the forwards could not turn in.
At the other end, Sailors new signing Hazel Lim was alert to danger, producing a brave 60th-minute intervention to snuff out a one-on-one opportunity.
Four minutes later, teenage substitute Amelia Ng made an instant impact with a teasing cross that Dhaniyah cushioned into the path of Qarissa Putri, whose fierce drive towards the bottom corner was brilliantly turned away by Fadhilah.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 83rd minute when Farah earned a penalty after being fouled in the box by Geylang defender Elyssa Qistina. Dhaniyah made no mistake from the spot, slotting it confidently into the right corner for her fourth goal of the season since joining in February.
“As much as people say penalties are easy, it’s also easy to get them wrong,” she said with a smile. “I’m just happy to have converted it for the team. I’m usually more defensive, but I’ve been scoring a bit more this season, and I’m proud to have contributed.”
Captain Umairah Hamdan hailed the team’s hard work that led to the penalty: “It felt like a blessing. We were really pressing and dominating their box, so when the referee gave the penalty, it felt deserved. That goal on the final day was a reward for all our hard work.”
However, Farhanah’s late equaliser silenced the Sailors’ celebrations, and Syazwani Ruzi admitted it was a harsh reminder of the importance of focus.
“The penalty gave us hope of ending the season with a win, but we didn’t hold on. It’s a lesson that if you don’t give 100 percent until the end, you won’t get the result you want.”
With their domestic campaign concluded, the Sailors now turn their attention to November’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League group stage in Vietnam — their maiden appearance in the tournament proper.
“Today taught us about desire and purpose,” said Umairah. “It’s not just about individual effort. Every player must bring that same intensity and drive. Going into the AWCL, we need that collective determination every match.
“I’m so proud of everyone for showing up to every training session and giving their all. Whether you were on the pitch or on the bench, your energy and support didn’t go unnoticed. That spirit keeps us going as one team.”
For Dhaniyah, the focus is firmly on moving forward. “I’m new to the team and I know this wasn’t our best season, but we have to look ahead. We tried our best, and that’s what matters.”
The Lion City Sailors Women stormed to a 6-0 victory over Tiong Bahru in their penultimate Women’s Premier League (WPL) fixture of the 2025 season at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Wednesday (1 October).
First-half goals from Dhaniyah Qasimah, Dorcas Chu, and Syazwani Ruzi set the tone, before Farah Nurzahirah, 16-year-old debut scorer Tyan Foong, and captain Umairah Hamdan added further gloss after the break.
The result kept the Sailors in the hunt for second place going into the final day of the WPL season this weekend, as they closed the gap between them and Still Aerion to three points.
“The margin of victory could have been much higher. Finding pockets of space and making intelligent runs was the key factor tonight,” said Head Coach Daniel Ong.
Buoyed by Sunday’s stoppage-time equaliser against Aerion, the Sailors started brightly and nearly struck early when Dhaniyah rattled the crossbar in the 7th minute.
Four minutes later, she made no mistake with a calm close-range finish for her third goal of the season.
Dhaniyah and Umairah both went close before substitute Tia Foong made an immediate impact after replacing Wan Nashirah in the 35th minute. The 18-year-old swung in a cross that Farah cushioned perfectly for Dorcas to slam home in the 38th minute.
Six minutes later, Syazwani brilliantly flicked home Dhaniyah’s cross to send the Sailors into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Daniel then handed goalkeeper Nurul Haziqah Haszman her WPL debut in the second half as the Sailors continued to maintain control of proceedings.
Within two minutes of the restart, Farah headed Dhaniyah’s cross goalwards, and though her initial effort was saved, she reacted quickest to tuck home the rebound to extend her fine scoring run after netting the winner against Tiong Bahru last week.
That was Farah’s 13th goal for the Sailors since joining in the mid-season transfer window and her 24th of the season overall.
In the 83rd minute, teenager Tyan Foong – who replaced Khairunnisa Anwar midway through the half – announced herself in style. Latching onto a through ball, the Sailors Girls Academy graduate coolly lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper to notch her maiden WPL goal.
“It feels surreal to score at this level,” said a beaming Tyan. “From captaining the national Under-16s at the Lion City Cup to now finding the net in the WPL, it’s such a big step in my journey. I’m grateful to the coaches for believing in me and helping me grow.”
Tyan’s goal also meant a total of 19 different players have netted for the Sailors in this season’s WPL.
There was still time for one more goal, as Umairah’s late effort deflected into the net to complete a resounding win for Daniel’s charges.
The Sailors will now look to close their domestic campaign on a high as they face Geylang International on Sunday (5 October). A win will be enough to overhaul Still Aerion for second place, if the latter loses to Albirex Niigata (S) on the same night.
Anderson Lopes was in unstoppable form at the Bishan Stadium on Wednesday (1 October), as he scored all four goals to fire the Lion City Sailors to a 4-2 win over Malaysia’s Selangor FC in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
The Brazilian forward completed his hat-trick before half-time and added a fourth after the break to seal the Sailors’ first win of their 2025/26 ACL Two campaign. The result lifted them to the top of Group G, after Persib Bandung’s 2-0 victory over Bangkok United in the group’s other fixture.
Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković made just one change from the opening-day draw against Persib two weeks ago, bringing in Christopher van Huizen for Safuwan Baharudin.
With the home fans in full voice, the Sailors flew out of the blocks and opened the scoring inside seven minutes, when Bart Ramselaar’s cross was flicked on by Maxime Lestienne for Anderson to nod home.
Just five minutes later, the Brazilian struck again, reacting quickest to a deflected effort from Bart before rounding Selangor goalkeeper Kalamullah Al Hafiz and finishing into an empty net with his favoured left foot.
“I think we started the match very well. Two early goals are exactly what you want for a great start,” said Ranko. “After that we went a little bit into a defensive mode, which was not necessary, but it’s something natural.”
The game was then halted just past the half-hour mark when the Lightning Warning System (LWS) forced the players off for 95 minutes.
On the restart, Selangor immediately pulled one back through Chrigor Moraes, who converted from the spot after being adjudged to have been brought down by Ivan Sušak.
But the Sailors soon restored their two-goal cushion in first-half stoppage time. Ivan launched the move from the back, Maxime picked out Tsiy Ndenge, and the midfielder’s deflected pass fell kindly for Anderson to tap home with his right peg and complete a perfect hat-trick.
“I don’t believe sitting back is a good thing unless you’re protecting a lead. With our strength, we can keep pushing, and luckily we got the third goal,” Ranko reflected.
Selangor threatened early in the second half when Faisal Halim stung Ivan’s palms with a rasping drive, but the Sailors responded instantly as Bart spearheaded a swift counter-attack and released Anderson, who coolly lifted the ball over Kalamullah Al Hafiz to make it 4-1.
It was Anderson’s second career four-goal haul, with his first coming for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo against Shimizu S-Pulse in the J1 League back in 2019.
“I’m ready to score more goals for the Sailors,” said Anderson, who was named Player of the Match. “In every new league there’s an adaptation period, but I feel I’ve settled now and I want to keep improving.”
Despite trailing by three goals, Selangor refused to give in and nearly pulled one back when Al Rawabdeh’s effort beat Ivan but crashed off the crossbar. The Red Giants did reduce the deficit in the 72nd minute, as Faisal Halim unleashed a fierce strike that went in off the underside of the bar.
He came close again with a curling free-kick 10 minutes later, but Ivan’s fingertip save ensured the Sailors closed out the victory with ease.
Despite the 4-2 win, Ranko stressed that his side could have been far more clinical as the Sailors marked their return to Bishan Stadium for continental action since last season’s ACL Two final.
“The only thing I would say is we could have scored more,” said Ranko. “We also conceded a very unnecessary second goal, which made it a little more exciting for the fans. But it’s good that I have two or three good strikers because they push each other and that brings the best out of them.”
The night, however, belonged to Anderson, who once again showcased his pedigree on the continental stage in front of 1,745 fans. The 28-year-old is now up to 22 goals in AFC competitions, having also shone in his previous stint with Japanese giants Yokohama F. Marinos.
“We know he’s a top player,” Ranko added. “Every foreign signing needs time to adapt, but there’s absolutely no doubt about Anderson’s quality.”
The Sailors will return to action on October 18 as they host Young Lions in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) at the same venue, before travelling to Thailand to face Bangkok United in their third ACL Two Group G match five days later (23 October).
Causeway pride will be at stake on Wednesday (1 October) evening, when the Lion City Sailors host Malaysia’s Selangor FC at the Bishan Stadium in their Group G Matchday Two clash of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
A sleeping giant
In what will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides, the Sailors are determined to make an early statement in the competition. Standing in their way, however, is Selangor – the most decorated club in Malaysian football history.
Selangor have lifted 53 top-flight honours, including 33 Malaysia Cup titles, eight Charity Shields, seven league championships, and five FA Cups. Their last major trophy, however, came in 2015 when they won the Malaysia Cup.
The Red Giants have struggled in the early stages of the Malaysia Super League (MSL), with a recent 1-0 loss to Kuching City marking their third defeat in five games. Their ACL Two campaign also started poorly with a 4-2 defeat to Bangkok United.
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Nonetheless, they have shown their pedigree in the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup, holding Buriram United to a 1-1 draw before sweeping aside BG Tampines Rovers 4-2 in their opening two matches.
But Selangor’s preparations for the Sailors clash were unsettled by a sudden coaching change, with Katsuhito Kinoshi dismissed just five days before Wednesday’s match.
Christophe Gamel has since taken over as Interim Head Coach, and the 53-year-old Frenchman began his tenure with a 2-1 victory over a Singapore Premier League (SPL) Selection in the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup on Saturday (27 September).
Despite the short lead time, Gamel remains upbeat about his side’s prospects against the Sailors.
“Four days with the team and one game in between isn’t enough, but the players are highly motivated,” he said. “We’ll make up for the lack of time with extra focus and energy. No matter the circumstances, it’s our job to make things happen.”
But even with the Sailors’ formidable home record in ACL Two, the former Vietnam assistant coach is confident his side can rise to the occasion.
“We know the Sailors are strong at home, but we want to play good football, and if we do that, we can get a positive result. The team will fight to secure the maximum points possible,” he added.
No shortage of experience
Despite losing talisman Ali Olwan in the summer, Selangor have revamped their squad with several key signings.
The standout addition is English attacking midfielder Zach Clough, formerly of Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, who arrives after being named Adelaide United’s Player of the Year in the 2023/24 A-League season.
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They have also recruited Thai internationals Picha Autra and Kevin Deeromram – both of whom faced the Sailors in last season’s ACL Two with Muangthong United and Port FC respectively – and Brazilian striker Chrigor Moraes, who already has nine goals and five assists in 10 games.
This foreign contingent joins an already strong spine featuring Jordan internationals Mohammad Abualnadi and Noor Al-Rawabdeh, who were both instrumental in their nation’s first-ever FIFA World Cup™ qualification, while Cape Verde winger Alvin Fortes adds further attacking options to the squad.
Selangor’s imports are complemented by a solid local core that includes four Malaysian internationals. Captain Faisal Halim is a constant attacking threat, while Finland-born midfielder Nooa Laine (pictured below) remains a mainstay for both club and country.
Midfielder Quentin Cheng has also been a creative force for Selangor from the right, having recorded five assists in eight matches. However, they will be without centre-back Harith Haiqal, who is suspended after his red card against Bangkok United.
Sailors return to familiar ground
After a testing start to the campaign, the Sailors have rediscovered their groove in recent weeks, with a resounding 7-0 victory over Tanjong Pagar United in their last SPL fixture giving them momentum as they head back into continental competition.
This will be the Sailors’ first continental match at the Bishan Stadium since their heartbreaking ACL Two final defeat to Sharjah FC, and they are determined to make their return a triumphant one in front of their supporters.
“We are playing at our home ground for the first time in all competitions this season, so we’re very happy to be back here after four months,” said Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković. “There’s no pressure on the team. We have a group of experienced players who know how to handle big occasions. The focus is on enjoying every moment of this competition.”
Vice-captain Bailey Wright echoed his coach’s sentiments, and stressed the importance of converting home advantage into points.
Reflecting on the Sailors’ opening 1-1 draw against Persib Bandung in Indonesia, the Australian said, “I thought we played very well against Persib Bandung, especially in the second half when we looked more likely to win it. But like Coach Ranko said, every point is valuable in this competition.
“Our home record is good, but it’s up to us to keep it that way. Selangor’s changes make them unpredictable, but we always focus on ourselves and aim for the win.”
With a Singapore–Malaysia rivalry adding spice to the contest, Bailey knows that national pride is also at stake in this game.
“History shows there’s always been a rivalry between the two countries, and it’s always nice to be part of a game with that extra edge. Such games attract good support, and we’ll have our fans behind us,” he said.
“Last year’s run showed that we weren’t just representing the Sailors, but also Singapore as a football nation. We feel a responsibility to do well for both club and country, and we’ll use that motivation to drive us tomorrow.”
Seven Lion City Sailors players have been called up to Gavin Lee’s 26-strong Singapore National Team squad that will face India in a crucial Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifying double-header in October.
On-loan defender Safuwan Baharudin, along with Lionel Tan, Hami Syahin, Song Uiyoung, Shawal Anuar, and custodian Izwan Mahbud, have kept their spots from the previous September window, during which the Lions were defeated 2-1 by Malaysia and held Myanmar 1-1 in ‘A’ International Friendlies.
Meanwhile, Lions and Sailors captain Hariss Harun returns to the fold after a successful return from injury and has a chance to add to his tally of 142 caps.
The 34-year-old started two out of the Sailors’ three fixtures in September, including the 5-0 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over Balestier on 14 September and a 1-1 draw away against Persib Bandung in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two four days later.
The Lions will first host India at the National Stadium on Thursday, 9 October before facing the South Asia nation again away at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa five days later (14 October).
Currently top of Group C with four points from two matches, positive results in these two games will put them in the driving seat for a first-ever qualification to the Asian Cup on merit.
As Lennart Thy laid the ball off to Rui Pires outside the box, there was only one thing on the Portuguese midfielder’s mind – finding the back of the Tanjong Pagar United net.
Without hesitation, he unleashed a sublime first-time strike that arrowed into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam with no chance.
Beyond its quality, the goal carried special significance for Rui. It was the 27-year-old’s first-ever senior career goal, with his last strike coming all the way back in the 2017/18 UEFA Youth League for FC Porto.
But Rui was quick to downplay the milestone, preferring instead to highlight the team’s collective effort in their emphatic 7-0 Singapore Premier League (SPL) win over the Jaguars last Monday (22 September).
“I’m happy about the goal, but I usually don’t think much about scoring. My focus is always on doing my best to help the team, and letting things happen naturally,” he said.
“Everyone in the team wants not only to win, but to do so with a strong performance. This result gives us confidence heading into the next few games.”
October will be a pivotal month for Rui and the Sailors, with two crucial Asian Football Confederations Champions League (ACL) Two Group G fixtures, alongside their domestic Singapore Premier League (SPL) duties.
With their sights set on another deep continental run, the reigning SPL champions bolstered their squad in the summer with several key additions, including Brazilian forward Anderson Lopes and Croatian goalkeeper Ivan Sušak.
While it has taken time for the newcomers to settle in, their impact is already being felt. Ivan produced a stunning last-minute save in the Sailors’ 1-1 draw away against Persib Bandung, while Anderson opened his club account with a brace against Tanjong Pagar.
“We want to help everyone adapt as quickly as possible,” said Rui. “It’s difficult coming to a new country where everything is different, but everyone has welcomed them with open arms. They’ve already made the team stronger.”
The Sailors now turn their attention to Wednesday’s (1 October) home clash against Selangor FC, as they look to build on their credible showing against Persib in their opening Group G game.
“It was a tough match because Persib are a strong side with many foreigners and a difficult home atmosphere,” recalled Rui. “But we did well in the second half and created a lot of chances. The point was deserved.”
With added intensity whenever Singaporean and Malaysian clubs meet, Rui knows the Sailors will need to be at their best.
“Every time we step onto the pitch, our goal is to win,” he said. “I’m aware of the rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, and that gives us extra motivation. We’ll give everything to get the three points against Selangor, and I’m confident we’ll put in a good performance.”
The Sailors will also be counting on the roar of their home supporters at Bishan Stadium, where they return for the first time since their heartbreaking ACL Two Final defeat to Sharjah four months ago.
“We know our fans will always be behind us. I’m sure they’ll create a great atmosphere and give us that extra push,” said Rui.
He added, “We know people will see us differently after what we achieved last season. But we can’t dwell on the past. This is a new season, with new teams. If we’re not performing at 100 percent, it’ll be very difficult.”
Now into his third year with the Sailors, Rui has established himself as one of the club’s most dependable figures. Reflecting on the Sailors’ journey since his arrival, he spoke with pride about how far they have come.
“Everything the management told me about their ambitions has come true. They wanted to build a winning team, and last year was the biggest proof of that,” said Rui, who is three games away from hitting 50 appearances for the club.
“There has been plenty of positive change, but we don’t want to stop here. We want to go further and keep growing as a club.”
The Lion City Sailors Women clawed their way back from two goals down on Sunday (28 September) night to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw with Still Aerion, in a result that ultimately decided the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title race.
With Aerion chasing a maiden WPL crown and the Sailors fighting to keep their hopes of a second-place finish alive, both sides rose to the occasion at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium, and produced a contest that had fans on the edge of their seats.
An own goal from Aerion’s Afiqah Omar and a stoppage-time free kick from Sarah Zu’risqha cancelled out strikes from Sunisa Srangthaisong and Jaruwan Chaiyarak, with the draw ending Aerion’s title hopes.
It also sealed Albirex Niigata (S)’s triumph as 2025 WPL champions, ending the Sailors’ three-year grip on the crown.
Now third in the standings with 32 points and two matches left, the Sailors are determined to regroup and overtake Aerion in pursuit of the runners-up spot before turning their focus to their maiden Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL) Group Stage appearance in November.
“We created chances by putting in effort to build up play, but we just didn’t finish in front of goal. We need to work on our finishing for the next few games and be more tactful in both midfield and in the box,” reflected skipper Umairah Hamdan.
Sarah echoed her captain’s words, adding: “We didn’t convert our chances and that’s something we should work on more for the future. I think my performance could have been better in terms of supporting teammates and creating movement. That’s what I’ll look to improve on in the final two games and before the AWCL.”
While the first half ended goalless, it was far from uneventful. Aerion threatened as early as the third minute, but Sailors goalkeeper Hazel Lim was equal to the task.
Sunisa then came close to opening the scoring in the 37th minute, while Dhaniyah Qasimah and Syazwani Ruzi also threatened before the break, though Aerion’s pressing denied the Sailors their usual rhythm.
“We could have done better in the first half in terms of keeping composure. We were nervous and didn’t play to our feet. But in the second half we encouraged each other and supported the play better,” admitted Umairah.
After the restart, the Sailors grew into the game through Dhaniyah and Farah Nurzahirah’s efforts, but it was Aerion who struck first. In the 61st minute, Sunisa pounced on a loose ball to chip Hazel for the opener.
The Sailors responded almost instantly, with Dorcas Chu’s bicycle kick drawing gasps before Dhaniyah fired narrowly wide.
The Sailors were soon made to pay for their missed chances in the 72nd minute when Jaruwan doubled Aerion’s advantage with a crisp finish.
Just seven minutes later, however, the Sailors were handed a lifeline when Afiqah inadvertently turned the ball into her own net. That slice of fortune galvanised the Sailors, who pushed relentlessly for an equaliser.
With Hazel standing firm at the back, the stage was set for late drama. And deep into stoppage time, Sarah lined up a free kick from distance and struck sweetly to beat the keeper and spark wild celebrations.
“I’m really happy to score and that we found the equaliser in the end. It was out of my range but I felt confident to take it on and it paid off,” Sarah said, before urging her teammates to finish the season strongly. “We have to take this result, regroup and continue to focus on our style of football in the last two games. Whatever happens, we need to play at our own pace.”
The Sailors will next take on Tiong Bahru on Wednesday (1 October), before wrapping up their 2025 WPL campaign against Geylang International four days later (5 October).
The Lion City Sailors Women returned to their free-scoring ways with a commanding 7-0 victory over Tanjong Pagar United in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the Bukit Gombak Stadium on Wednesday (24 September) night.
Farah Nurzahirah struck her second hat-trick in Sailors colours, while Syazwani Ruzi, Qarissa Putri, Dorcas Chu, and Dhaniyah Qasimah also found the net. At the other end of the pitch, new goalkeeper Hazel Lim marked her second clean sheet in as many games with another confident display between the posts.
“This is by far the best game the girls have played this season in the league, but in certain moments there is still room for improvement,” said Head Coach Daniel Ong. “That said, credit to the girls for showing what they are capable of when they believe in themselves.”
Despite the win, the Sailors remain eight points behind leaders Albirex Niigata (S) with three matches left, after Ruriko Takashima’s first-half brace helped the White Swans beat Hougang United 4-0 in the corresponding fixture.
The Sailors’ starting line-up was notable for the inclusion of Girls Academy graduate Amelia Ng, who at just 15 years and 39 days old, was the youngest player on the pitch.
But it was star forward Farah, fresh from scoring the winner against Tiong Bahru on Sunday, who seized the initiative early on, as she pounced on the rebound from Sarah Zu’risqha’s sixth-minute strike to tap home for her fifth straight game on the scoresheet.
“She is a player with the potential to keep growing, and her arrival has been a real boost for us,” said Daniel. “But credit also goes to the team because without their support, she wouldn’t have the chances to score.”
Farah doubled her tally in the 19th minute after capitalising on a lapse in concentration at the back, before Syazwani clinically converted a through ball to make it 3-0.
Birthday girl Qarissa then marked the occasion with a long-range effort that deflected in off a Tanjong Pagar defender to become the Sailors’ 18th different scorer this season. Amelia almost added her name to that list with a shot on target that was deflected for a corner.
The Sailors kept their foot on the pedal after the restart, with Dorcas slotting home from close range in the 49th minute. Dhaniyah soon made it six with a lofted strike that sailed beyond goalkeeper Elizabeth Tan just past the hour mark.
Farah rounded off the scoring — and completed her hat-trick — nine minutes from time by tucking in Sarah’s low cross to seal the rout.
“I think I played well tonight. There’s still a lot of room for improvement, but overall we did a good job as a team, especially in finishing our chances,” said a delighted Farah.
After a slow start to life at the club, the 21-year-old — who was crowned WPL Young Player of the Year in 2024 — has hit her stride following her move from Geylang International in early August. She now has 12 goals in Sailors colours.
“It took me some time to adapt to the team’s style, but I gradually gained confidence through training sessions and communication with my teammates,” reflected the forward, whose overall tally of 22 goals puts her just three behind Albirex’s league-leading scorer Takashima.
The Sailors will now turn their attention to Sunday’s (28 September) crunch clash against title contenders Still Aerion, who edged them 3-2 last week.
And Daniel is confident his side can reverse that result if they replicate Wednesday’s display.
“We will play our usual game. There won’t be any special plans because I believe the girls can get the win if they perform the way they did tonight.”
The Lion City Sailors stormed to a third consecutive victory at the start of the 2025/26 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season as they defeated Tanjong Pagar United 7-0 at the Jurong East Stadium on Monday (22 September) night.
Centre forwards Lennart Thy and Anderson Lopes each struck twice, while Diogo Costa, Rui Pires, and Song Uiyoung also found the net in what was the Sailors’ 18th straight win over the Jaguars.
“We were very dominant tonight, especially in the first half. All the credit goes to the boys. I didn’t expect such a big result, honestly. With three disallowed goals, the scoreline could have been even bigger,” said Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković after the match.
The Sailors entered the match on the back of a dramatic 1-1 draw away to Indonesia’s Persib Bandung in their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two opener, where Lennart struck a stoppage-time equaliser to secure a valuable point.
Handed a start against Tanjong Pagar, the German picked up where he left off in the 14th minute, as he met Maxime Lestienne’s perfectly weighted cross with a header that crashed in off the underside of the bar to open the scoring.
Bart Ramselaar was equally bright in the final third, forcing Zaiful Nizam into a save before flashing another effort wide.
His lively start eventually paid off in the 28th minute, when he weaved past two defenders on the byline before squaring across goal for Diogo to bundle home his first SPL goal.
The hosts threatened briefly when ex-Sailor Naqiuddin Eunos struck the post, but Ranko’s men restored control in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time, as Song’s long ball was expertly brought down by Lennart, who coolly lifted it over Zaiful for 3-0.
“The whole team’s performance was convincing from the first minute. We wanted to be aggressive and dominant in this match,” said Lennart, who was later named Player of the Match.
Just three minutes later, the Sailors made it 4-0. Maxime’s corner fell to Lennart, who teed up Rui, and the Portuguese midfielder unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box for his first-ever senior career goal.
The moment sparked joyous celebrations from his teammates, with Rui having only previously scored at youth level for FC Porto in the UEFA Youth League.
There was still time for another before the break, as Song’s powerful effort deflected off Tanjong Pagar captain Aaron Evans to make it 5-0 at half-time.
In the second half, Ranko brought on Tsiy Ndenge, Hami Syahin, Abdul Rasaq Akeem, Hafiz Nor, and Anderson Lopes, with the Brazilian especially eager to open his account for the club.
And the Brazilian finally did so in the 84th minute via another Evans deflection, before adding a second in stoppage time — this time, with a composed low finish from Bart’s pass to round off a commanding 7-0 victory.
“Anderson was very good after coming off the bench. Maybe he could even have scored one more,” Ranko smiled. “When you have two strikers who can score at any moment, it makes my job easy.”
Both Lennart and Anderson have now staked strong claims for the central striker’s role, a selection dilemma Ranko is happy to have.
“In that position, I have four players. All of them can play, all of them can start,” he noted. “Sometimes I rotate because some may need a bit more rest. Even when Lenny didn’t start the previous few matches, we know he can score goals, so there’s no surprise.”
The emphatic win rounded off a strong September for the Sailors, who now turn their focus to the continental front as they face Malaysia Super League giants Selangor FC next Wednesday (1 October) in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
