After kicking off their 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two campaign with an impressive 2-0 win over China’s Zhejiang Professional two weeks ago, the Lion City Sailors are aiming for another three points as they face 2023 Thai League 1 second runners-up Port FC at the BG Stadium on Thursday (3 October) night.
An established Thai League 1 side in Port
The Sailors’ task is easier said than done, however, as Port are one of the most established teams in the Thai top flight, having finished in the top-three in five out of their last six campaigns.
Last season, Port scored the most goals in the Thai League, netting 72 in 30 matches — two more than eventual champions Buriram United, despite finishing 12 points behind them.
This season, Port are among the frontrunners for the Thai League 1 title, currently sitting second in the table, four points behind league leaders Buriram, with four wins, three draws, and one loss.
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However, all their victories came in the first four games of the season. Since then, their domestic form has faltered, and they are currently winless in four matches, including a 2-1 defeat to fellow title contenders BG Pathum United.
Nonetheless, Port have started their ACL Two campaign with a gritty 1-0 win away at Indonesia’s Persib Bandung, secured by an 89th-minute goal from Brazilian forward Willen Mota. They currently sit second in Group F, trailing the Sailors on goal difference.
That win has fuelled belief among the Port ranks that they can achieve a historic qualification for the tournament’s last-16.
For now, however, Port’s Head Coach Rangsan Viwatchaichok — who has achieved 18 wins, 11 draws, and just four losses in 33 matches since taking over in November 2023 — is focused on what he anticipates will be a tightly contested encounter against the Sailors.
He said, “We’ve done our homework and know that the Sailors are the top team in Singapore. Both Thai and Singaporean football have progressed over the years, particularly at the club level. I believe it won’t be an easy game for either side, but it should be an enjoyable one. Since we’re playing at home, we hope to secure three points to boost our chances of qualifying.”
The Irfan Fandi factor
The immediate reaction from the wider Singapore football fraternity to the ACL Two draw was the prospect of Irfan Fandi facing a Singaporean side and reuniting with some familiar teammates from the national team on the pitch.
The 27-year-old admits he is looking forward to a tantalising battle with his compatriots.
“For me, playing in these types of big games is very important,” said Irfan, who has made six Thai League 1 appearances and one ACL Two start since signing for Port from BG Pathum in June.
“I won’t lie… When the draw came out and I saw the Sailors in the group, I was really happy. I’ve been joking with my friends and (national team) teammates from their team that we’d face each other one day, so it feels like a dream come true. It’ll be a really good, exciting game, and a great occasion — but importantly, I want to get the three points.”
Apart from Irfan, Port boasts several other top stars from Southeast Asia, including Indonesian right-back Asnawi Mangkualam, who played for three seasons in South Korea’s K League 2 from 2021 to 2023 before joining Port last year.
However, their biggest scoring threat is likely to come from Mota, who was signed after finishing last season as the Thai League 1’s second-highest scorer with 20 goals for Bangkok United.
The 32-year-old faced the Sailors twice in last year’s ACL, playing the full 90 minutes in both of Bangkok’s narrow victories: a 2-1 win and a 1-0 win against the Sailors.
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Port also have other options upfront, including former Buriram and Shanghai Shenhua forward Lonsana Doumbouya, and rising local prospect Teerasak Poeiphimai, who is the current joint-second highest scorer in Thai League 1 with five goals.
At the other end, their defence is marshalled by Danish-born Iraqi international Frans Putros and Swedish-born Thai full-back Kevin Deeromram, who is the league’s joint-second highest assist maker with four.
Sailors up for the fight
Despite Port’s quality, the Sailors are prepared to take the fight to their more favoured opponents, especially with the added motivation from their successful Matchday One performance.
Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković also believes his team can draw on their experiences from last season’s matches against Bangkok United to help them prepare for another strong Thai opponent in Port.
“Port and Bangkok are two different teams, but we can take some lessons from those games,” said Ranko.
“Some of the players they have are similar, and both sides have a lot of quality, especially their local players, who are mainly national team members. If we perform at the same level as last year, I think we can get a good result.”
As the Sailors wrap up a gruelling stretch of six matches in 20 days, defender Bailey Wright has backed his team to maintain the same commitment and desire they have displayed in recent weeks, as they look to head into the October international break on a high.
“We’re excited for the game. The ACL Two is a big stage, and we understand the level of competition we’re facing,” said the 32-year-old, who represented Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“But we’re confident after our strong start. Despite a tight schedule, we’ve refreshed ourselves both mentally and physically, and we’re ready to show what we’re capable of in this match.
“We’re representing the Sailors and Singapore, and that’s a massive motivation for us. With that comes the expectation, hunger, and desire to win. We know what we’re capable of, and it’s up to us as a team to make sure we work hard and compete because we have the quality.
“These are the moments you play football for – to face strong opponents in meaningful games, and we’re looking forward to it.”
