As the clock ticked into the final ten minutes of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two Final, it was all hands on deck for the Lion City Sailors as they chased a one-goal deficit against Sharjah FC.

Having already introduced top scorer Shawal Anuar in a bid to turn the tide, Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković played another card in the 79th minute — sending on young striker Abdul Rasaq Akeem.

Facing a Sharjah defence anchored by South Korean international Cho Yu-min was no easy task, but the 21-year-old was unfazed by the occasion and immediately injected urgency into the Sailors’ game with his tireless pressing and relentless energy.

“We were chasing the game, so Coach Ranko wanted to push more men forward to create scoring chances,” explained Rasaq. “Sharjah are a strong team, but for me, it was just another game. I had to stay confident no matter who I was up against.

“The intensity was high, and I knew I had to stay sharp. The only thing on my mind was helping the team find that equaliser, so I just gave it everything I had.”

Rasaq’s introduction proved pivotal in the Sailors’ late breakthrough, as he calmly brought down a high ball before spreading it wide to full-back Diogo Costa, who squared it across for Maxime Lestienne to fire home the equaliser.

“When Maxime scored, belief came flooding back,” said Rasaq. “Everyone felt energised, and we genuinely thought we could ride that momentum and win the game in regulation time.”

But fate had other ideas.

Just as the Sailors looked poised to take control, Marcus Meloni struck a 97th-minute winner for Sharjah — a cruel blow that silenced the majority of the 9,737-strong Bishan Stadium crowd and shattered the Sailors’ hopes of a historic first continental title.

The dramatic late twist left Sailors players and fans stunned. But amid the heartbreak, Rasaq took heart in the team’s fighting spirit.

“We earned our place in the final, so it was only right that we gave everything until the final whistle,” said Rasaq. “Everyone — the fans, the staff, our families — has supported us throughout the season, so we knew we had to fight for everyone involved with the club. The result didn’t go our way, but I’m proud that every single one of us gave our all.”

Disappointment was clearly etched across the faces of the Sailors as they trudged back to the dressing room. But as the dust began to settle, there was also a growing sense that while the result stung, it had only strengthened the team’s belief, and fuelled their hunger to go even further.

“For all the effort we’ve put in this season, we really wanted to cap it off with the ACL Two trophy,” Rasaq shared. “I could see how disappointed everyone was at full time, but deep down, we’re incredibly proud of the club and how far we’ve come.

“That was also what Coach Ranko told us after the game, that we shouldn’t feel too down because we’ve already made history and brought pride to the nation. This is just the beginning. The defeat will only motivate us to keep pushing forward, and hopefully create even more special moments for Singapore.”

For Rasaq, featuring in a major continental final like the ACL Two still felt almost surreal.

“This was definitely one of the biggest moments of my career,” he reflected. “Finals like these were the kind of games I used to only watch on TV. To actually be on the pitch and part of it all is a completely different feeling. I never imagined playing in a match of this magnitude, so I’m just grateful for the opportunity. I’ll take everything I’ve learned and use it to grow from here.”

There will be little time for the Sailors to dwell on the heartbreak, however, with another trophy still up for grabs. Just 72 hours after the final, they will return to action in the first leg of a crucial Singapore Cup semi-final against an in-form Brunei DPMM side at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday (21 May).

The Bruneian outfit are riding a wave of momentum, and are unbeaten in nine of their last ten outings across all competitions, with five consecutive wins to their name. Their attack is led by Latvian international Dāvis Ikaunieks, who has been in red-hot form with nine goals in his last five games.

With one final push left this season, Rasaq is determined to channel the pain of defeat into fuel for the fight ahead.

“Losing a final is never easy, but we have to stay positive — there’s still one more piece of silverware to fight for,” he said. “Brunei are a very strong team and they’ve been in good form, so we need to be sharp and fully aware of the threats they pose. It’s all about staying focused and finishing the season in the best way possible.

“It’s important that we rest, recover, and prepare for the semi-finals in the best way possible. It was heartwarming to feel the love and support from our fans on Sunday. We still have the Singapore Cup to fight for, and the team is fully focused on finishing the season with more silverware.”