There was tension in the air as the Lion City Sailors Women’s team took to the pitch against their Albirex Niigata (S) counterparts at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Saturday (20 July) evening.

After all, this was a clash between two teams tied at the top of the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) table – a victory for either side would provide a crucial advantage in the title race.

And, at the end of 90 exhilarating minutes, it was Daniel Ong’s charges who emerged victorious, securing a 3-1 win and pulling three points clear of Albirex at the top of the table.

But it was far from an easy victory for the Sailors, with Albirex largely in control for much of the first half.

“It’s undeniable that Albirex got the better of us in the first 30 minutes. We were losing the ball in midfield and not exploiting the space well enough,” Daniel recounted. “So we changed our formation, and that allowed us to control the play much better. Credit also goes to the players who were quick to catch onto the new game plan.”

Indeed, Albirex’s early pressure paid off as they broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through midfielder Dhaniyah Qasimah’s powerful long-range strike.

Albirex’s lead, however, did not last long as the Sailors restored parity just seven minutes later. Racing onto Nur Syazwani Ruzi’s pass, 14-year-old Nur Ain Salleh skinned her marker with her blistering pace before calmly finishing past Albirex custodian Nurul Haziqah to draw the Sailors level.

Daniel’s charges seemed to finally find their footing in the second half, and it took only six minutes after the restart for Josephine Ang to give the Sailors the lead via a sumptuous free-kick that found the bottom corner of the net. The goal was Josephine’s 10th of the season, and her third from a direct free-kick.

Ain then got her second goal of the night, and the Sailors’ third, in the 57th minute through slightly fortuitous circumstances, as her teasing cross from the right wing sailed into the back of the net after catching Nurul Haziqah in the Albirex goal off-guard.

The goal proved to be a decisive blow for Albirex, and they were unable to mount a comeback as the Sailors managed the remainder of the game with professionalism.

Ain, who only made her Sailors debut against Tiong Bahru in the last match, admitted to being nervous ahead of such a key game. However, she credited her teammates and the Sailors coaching staff for giving her the guidance and confidence to perform at her best and contribute significantly to the victory.

“I definitely felt the pressure, especially knowing how strong Albirex can be,” Ain, who came on for Miray Altun in the 23rd minute, shared. “But the support from my teammates and coaches really helped me focus. Coach Daniel encouraged me to play without fear, even against defenders who were much bigger than me, and to use my speed. I was both surprised and thrilled to score, as I didn’t expect to!”

Ain’s performance also caught the eye of Daniel, who commended her for her fearless approach to the game despite her young age.

He said, “We all know what she’s (Ain) capable of. This is just her second game for us, but she’s already getting used to the pressures of the WPL by playing against a more physical and experienced side.”

Reflecting on his side’s comeback win, Daniel believes that defeating a formidable team like Albirex under such challenging circumstances will only strengthen his players’ self-belief.

“They came from behind to beat an experienced team that had a player who’s been to the World Cup in Kana (Kitahara), as well as several former and current national team members. I’m sure this win will boost the players’ belief in their ability to compete against top-quality opponents,” Daniel stated.

Ain echoed Daniel’s sentiments, adding, “I think we’ll not only feel more confident and stronger mentally, but also physically now that we’ve overcome one of the toughest challenges of the season.”

Next up for the Sailors Women is a clash against Hougang United on Saturday (27 July) at Choa Chu Kang, as they continue their pursuit of a third straight WPL title.