The Lion City Sailors marked their return to Bishan Stadium in style, as they delivered a scintillating performance to secure a 6-0 win over defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) in their first Singapore Premier League (SPL) home game of the year on Friday (17 January).
In what was their first league match back at their Bishan den in nearly three months, the Sailors put on a masterclass that not only thrilled the home crowd, but more importantly, extended their lead at the top of the SPL table to three points over title rivals BG Tampines Rovers, who have played a game more.
The Sailors were relentless from the start, scoring four goals in the first half — a feat they last achieved during the opening match of their triumphant Singapore Cup campaign in 2023 against Balestier Khalsa.
Equally impressive was the variety in the Sailors’ attack, with four different players finding the net in the first 45 minutes. Shawal Anuar, Lennart Thy, Bart Ramselaar, and Song Uiyoung each contributed to a dominant opening half, as Aleksandar Ranković’s men dismantled the defending champions with precision and flair.
“I think the game was more or less decided in the first half. I didn’t expect it to unfold that way — I was anticipating a bit more pressure from Albirex,” admitted Ranko, who oversaw his 50th match in all competitions as Sailors head coach.
“To be honest, we were a little nervous until we scored the first goal, but after that, everything went smoothly.”
The all-important first goal arrived in the 15th minute, courtesy of the red-hot Shawal. The 33-year-old — who has now scored more league goals in his 30s than his 20s — got between the Albirex backline and the onrushing Hassan Sunny to apply a fearless header that broke the deadlock.
Ten minutes later, the visitors had their best chance of the first half when Albirex captain Ryhan Stewart rattled the crossbar with a thunderous strike.
That was about as good as it got for Albirex, as just past the half-hour mark, the Sailors doubled their lead. This time, it was Lennart who rose to the occasion, expertly guiding a perfectly-weighted cross from Toni Datković past Hassan with a precise header to make it 2-0.
Sensing blood in the water, the Sailors launched wave after wave of attacks, which culminated in Bart Ramselaar’s spectacular goal in the 35th minute. The Dutchman cut inside his man before unleashing a stunning strike into the top corner to make it 3-0.
Reflecting on his team’s return to familiar surroundings at Bishan, a visibly pleased Ranko said, “The pitch helped us tonight — it’s the best I’ve seen so far, and I’ve never seen it in such great condition. The weather was also perfect, so all the ingredients were there.”
In first-half stoppage time, Bart turned from goalscorer to provider, laying the ball off to Song, who delivered a superb finish to cap off a swift counterattack and make it 4-0.
The second half picked up where the first left off, with the Sailors quickly adding to their commanding lead. Christopher van Huizen’s precise pass found Bart, whose shot was parried by Hassan straight into Lennart’s path, and the German striker made no mistake from close range to net his 15th league goal of the season.
“I think it was a good performance from start to finish. We created chances right from the beginning, which made everything easier for us. It was great to stay as focused as we did today,” said Lennart, who has now been named Player of the Match in back-to-back games.
“As a striker, you always want to keep this momentum going for your team. I hope to continue playing the way I have in the last two matches and help the team to more victories.”
Alongside Lennart, however, the Sailors midfielders also played a crucial role in the victory. Bart was at his best, while M. Anumanthan impressed in his first league start since the Sailors’ 6-0 triumph over Tanjong Pagar United last September.
The Sailors’ sixth goal of the night came in the 66th minute, with Chris van Huizen once again playing a key role. This time, the Singapore international set up Sergio Carmona Pérez, who calmly slotted the ball into the net for his second goal of the season — further highlighting the team’s strength in the attacking third.
With a comfortable six-goal advantage, the likes of Hafiz Nor and Haiqal Pashia were brought on to help see out the win. Ranko later revealed that he had encouraged his players to keep pushing until the final whistle, despite their commanding lead.
“I can imagine the players felt the game was over, but that doesn’t matter. Especially in a game like this, you have to keep pushing because goal difference could play a crucial role in the end,” Ranko explained.
“So, I don’t want my players to relax. When you relax, there’s always the risk of picking up injuries or unnecessary cards. That’s why I kept pushing my team.”
Another positive for the Serb was the Sailors’ eighth clean sheet of the season – another mark of the Sailors’ dominant performance against the defending champions.
However, bigger challenges lie ahead, with Ranko’s charges still competing on four fronts this season. Indeed, the club’s upcoming match is set to be one of the most pivotal of the 2024/25 campaign, as they will host Thai League 1 champions Buriram United in an ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup Matchday Four encounter.
A victory would see the Sailors – who notched their first win of the campaign against Kuala Lumpur City FC in the previous round – draw level on points with Buriram. Ranko, however, acknowledges his team will face a tough task when the two sides meet on Thursday, 23 January.
He said, “Our main focus now is going to be Buriram because, for me, they are the best team in Southeast Asia. So, I think competing against them is going to be a big challenge. But we love challenges, and the boys can’t wait.”