The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team fell to their first defeat of the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, as they narrowly lost 1-0 to Albirex Niigata (S) at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Sunday (18 May).

It marked just the second defeat in the team’s history since their formation in 2022, with their only other loss coming against Geylang International in the 2024 season.

Despite the setback, the Sailors remain atop the WPL standings with 13 points from six matches, though Albirex have closed the gap to just one point with a game in hand.

“We played according to our game plan today and I’m proud of each and every member of this team,” said Sailors Head Coach Daniel Ong. “We came close to scoring in the first half but didn’t take our chances. We’ll move on from this and take each game as it comes.”

Daniel handed a start to Sailors Girls’ Academy graduate Madison Telmer, who made her return to the starting XI and was quickly involved in the thick of the action.

While Albirex started the stronger of the two sides, the Sailors soon created the game’s first big opportunity in the 12th minute. Albirex goalkeeper Erlinawaty Jaffar failed to claim a high ball, allowing Sarah Zu’risqha a free header — only for her effort to be dramatically cleared off the line by Sun Jie.

The Sailors came even closer just a minute later. Madison whipped in an inch-perfect cross from the right that found Priscille Le Helloco, but her fierce strike cannoned off the woodwork.

Those missed opportunities would prove costly for the Sailors, as in the 22nd minute, Albirex took the lead against the run of play through Ruriko Takashima, who broke free from midfield and finished coolly over the reach of Beatrice Tan.

It was Takashima’s fourth goal in two games, having netted a hat-trick in last weekend’s 7-2 win over Still Aerion.

The Sailors tried to respond immediately, and in the 32nd minute, Sarah’s low free-kick appeared to slip through the grasp of Erlinawaty, but the Albirex custodian reacted quickly to push the ball out for a corner.

The first-half ended with Albirex holding on to a slender 1-0 lead, but the Sailors came out with renewed purpose in the second half.

Umairah Hamdan tried her luck from distance in the 48th minute, but her effort flew off target, with the increasingly heavy downpour posing challenges for both teams.

“The rain actually affected our game today. The long balls weren’t going in the right direction, while the short passes couldn’t reach our players’ feet,” said Sailors captain Umairah.

“Both teams had to deal with the same conditions, but when the pitch is waterlogged and the surface isn’t dry or stable, it definitely affects your performance.”

Just past the hour mark, the Sailors continued to push for an equaliser, with Madison and Dhaniyah Qasimah both having attempts on goal, though neither seriously tested the Albirex goalkeeper.

At the other end, Khairunnisa Anwar came up with a crucial intervention in the 66th minute, producing a heroic last-ditch sliding tackle to deny Albirex a second goal and keep her side in the contest.

Madison later carved out a shot under pressure from three defenders, but it proved to be the Sailors’ final meaningful attempt on goal as Albirex held firm, even with several attacking substitutions introduced in the closing stages.

“Despite the loss, I think there were more positives than negatives for us in this game,” reflected Umairah. “The girls did a good job. Everyone gave their all and tried to play really good football.”

The Sailors will have a chance to bounce back next Saturday (24 May), when they take on bottom-placed Balestier Khalsa.

While the Tigresses have shipped 26 goals in just five matches, they will head into the clash with renewed belief after securing their first WPL victory of the season — a 2-1 win over Tanjong Pagar United.

Looking ahead, Umairah stressed the importance of being more clinical in front of goal.

“One thing we must do better is to be more decisive in the final third,” she said. “Chances will come, but we need to optimise them and seize every opportunity.”

“So that’s something we’ll work on — not just in the next game against Balestier, but moving forward as well if we want to achieve the results we’re aiming for.”