Having already overcome Zhejiang Professional and Muangthong United in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two this season, the Lion City Sailors were quietly optimistic about claiming another giant scalp when they faced Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first-leg of their Quarter-Final tie on Wednesday (5 March) night.

However, despite their best efforts, the Sailors ultimately fell short, suffering a 6-1 defeat to a relentless Sanfrecce side in front of a 6,812-strong home crowd at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima.

While the Sailors held their own in the first half – which ended 2-1 in favour of the hosts – a four-goal flurry from the three-time J1 League champions in the second half has left their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.

While acknowledging the gulf between the two sides in his post-match press conference, Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković also rued his side’s lapses in concentration at crucial moments in the game.

“We just played against one of the best sides in Asia, but the result was a little harsh, as almost every shot they took went in,” said Ranko. “We did an okay job controlling the game in the first half, but were really unlucky to concede both in the closing minute of the first half and the first minute of the second half.”

Sanfrecce wasted no time asserting their authority, pinning the Sailors deep in their half with relentless waves of attacks. Their early dominance paid off in the 12th minute when midfielder Satoshi Tanaka executed a delightful pirouette on the edge of the box before rifling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Buoyed by the opener, Sanfrecce intensified their pressure and could have doubled their lead — if not for a series of heroic Sailors blocks. First, Sailors custodian Izwan Mahbud reacted sharply to smother a Tanaka effort in the 13th minute, before captain Hariss Harun courageously put his body on the line to deny Mutsuki Kato’s effort from the rebound.

Despite coming under immense pressure, the Sailors remained composed, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike on the counter. That opportunity arrived in the 36th minute when Maxime Lestienne weaved his way up the field before threading a pass to Bart Ramselaar, who in turn set up the in-form Shawal Anuar.

The 33-year-old made no mistake in front of goal, as he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner for his eighth goal in nine ACL Two matches.

In doing so, Shawal became the first Singaporean to score in the quarter-finals of an AFC competition since Indra Sahdan in 2008. His goal also made him the first visiting player to breach Sanfrecce’s home defence in 2025, ending their streak of three consecutive home clean sheets.

Unfortunately, that proved to be the Sailors’ best moment of the match, as Sanfrecce swiftly responded in the 41st minute. A precise slide-rule pass from Sota Nakamura on the right flank found Ryo Germain, who made no mistake from close range to restore his side’s advantage.

The home side then added a third just two minutes into the second half. Once again, it was Germain who capitalised on a pinpoint delivery — this time from half-time substitute Shunki Higashi — as he calmly finished with a deft touch into the Sailors’ net to complete his brace.

Even with their backs against the wall, the Sailors refused to give in and remained a constant threat on the counter. And they nearly found a way back in the 51st minute when Shawal came close to connecting with a Bart cross, but the ball narrowly evaded the Singaporean forward.

But the visitors’ resistance was eventually broken in the 67th minute when Shuto Nakano showed great awareness to pick out fellow substitute Hayao Kawabe on the edge of the penalty area. Kawabe unleashed a brilliant first-time strike that nestled into the bottom corner — just seven minutes after coming on.

Any faint hopes of a Sailors comeback were extinguished in the 73rd minute when former Monaco and Marseille stalwart Valère Germain directed a header into the net on his debut, courtesy of a deflection off Hariss.

Just a minute later, Nakamura capped off a dominant night for the hosts with a powerful strike, leaving the Sailors with a mountain to climb in the second leg.

“I told my boys that they have learned more from this match than from all the previous matches we’ve played in the last two years,” reflected Ranko. “This was a different level from what we experience back home in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), and while it will take time, this is the level we strive to reach.”

“We still have a match at home, and we will give our all to fight for our supporters and win that match at the very least,” he added.

The Sailors have little time to dwell on this tough defeat, as they return to SPL action against Hougang United at the Jalan Besar Stadium this Sunday (9 March), before hosting Sanfrecce at the same venue for the return leg on Wednesday (12 March).