Category: News
The clock is ticking down on the 2021 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season. Some eight months of hard work will come down to the final 90 minutes of football this Sunday (10 October).
The script of this year’s title race could not have been written any better. With multiple protagonists, plot twists, postponements, and even moments personifying poetry in motion, the captivating story of the 2021 SPL season stands at the cusp of its resolution with the Lion City Sailors and Albirex Niigata (S) locked on 45 points going into the season finale.
The Sailors hold the upper hand, with a superior goal difference of +35, four better than the White Swans (+31), and also the advantage of having scored more goals (55, to Albirex’s 46). As it stands, should the Sailors beat Balestier Khalsa 1-0, Albirex will need to defeat Tanjong Pagar United in a concurrent match by at least 6-0 to be crowned kings of Singapore football.
Given the circumstances, Kim Do-hoon’s men are widely viewed as the favourites for the title, but the players are adamant that nothing will be taken for granted – they will need to go out onto the Jalan Besar Stadium’s plastic green stage, do their jobs and defeat a tricky Balestier side.
The last time these teams met in August, Marko Kraljevic’s Tigers put in an impressive shift with the Sailors requiring a 95th-minute Stipe Plazibat penalty to rescue a point at the Toa Payoh Stadium.
“We’re of course excited (at the prospect of winning the title), but we are clear that we have not won anything yet, and we cannot get ahead of ourselves at all,” emphasised Hariss Harun who has been a constant presence in the team since arriving from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the mid-season transfer window.
“We didn’t do that well against Balestier at their home ground, but this time we’re playing at Jalan Besar so we need to take advantage of that. It’s important that we keep the focus to finish this final step.”
Young full-back Nur Adam Abdullah sang from the same hymn book.
“Once we step on the pitch, we have to adopt a winning mentality, play with our hearts out and settle for nothing less,” said the 20-year-old, who is in his first season with the Sailors after joining from Young Lions.
“If we score one, we have to keep going for more to boost our goal difference. We’ll never know what’s happening over at the Albirex game, so all we can do is to control things on our side and let fate settle the rest.”
It has been a testing season for the Sailors who had to navigate choppy waters to get to this point. Four points from their opening three games left them playing catch-up, and just eight games into the season when form was beginning to pick up, Australian coach Aurelio Vidmar left to pursue other opportunities.
But the Sailors soldiered on, winning the three matches under the interim charge of Under-21 Head Coach Robin Chitrakar, before proceeding to put up a run of five wins and four draws under Kim.
Now on a club-record 17-match unbeaten record since losing 3-1 to Hougang United in mid-March, a title at the end of what has been a roller-coaster season would be particularly sweet for all the club.
“We struggled as a team at the start and there were people doubting whether we could win the title, but we stuck together,” said Nur Adam. “Gradually we found chemistry and began to play really well together. Everyone put in a lot of hard work and it would just be amazing for us to win the title to cap off the year.”
The Sailors have shown resilience all campaign, most notably bouncing back from a heartbreaking 1-1 draw against Albirex in which they conceded a last-minute goal to concede the title initiative. They won their next two matches (6-1 against Tampines Rovers and 3-0 against Geylang International), and were helped by the White Swans’ shock 0-0 draw against Tampines that turned things back in their favour.
“It’s normal in a season that there are some games that we don’t do well in. The challenge is to pick ourselves up mentally, and we’ve shown over the course of the year we are strong enough to bounce back,” said Hariss. “By our own hard work and some luck, we have stayed in the mix and it’s key that we keep improving and take the next step.”
Nur Adam is an example of a player who has thrived at the Sailors and brought his game to the next level in 2021. His enterprising displays at left-back have not gone unnoticed – he has been nominated for the Young Player of the Year gong alongside teammate Saifullah Akbar and Albirex’s Ryoya Taniguchi.
Noting the “understanding of the game” as his biggest improvement, Nur Adam believes this nomination would not have happened without the support system within the club.
“I appreciate how the senior players here always encourage and give us advice, instead of being hard on us, whenever we make mistakes,” said the 2018 Dollah Kassim Award winner. “I’ve learnt a lot about game management. For example when we’re winning, they will tell me ‘why should you dribble? Just keep the ball’, and things like that.
“Now I’m better at knowing when to release the ball, when to dribble – when to do the right things basically. I’ve also learnt a lot of new things under Coach Kim – he always teaches me how to position myself. It’s a really healthy environment at this club where I can truly grow as a player.”
With 90 minutes separating them and destiny, the Sailors are determined to complete the mission that they set out for themselves since their 2020 inception.
For a number of the players including Nur Adam, it would be their first-ever title in their careers and they simply cannot wait to get out onto the field in front of an expectant sell-out crowd on Sunday.
“To be SPL champion will be a great addition to my CV and something that I will remember for the rest of my life,” he said. “We’re looking forward to seeing a great crowd at Jalan Besar and my family members will be coming down as usual to give their support. Hopefully we can have a big celebration at the end of the game.”
For Hariss, it would be his first domestic title as well – which could come as a slight surprise to many given that he has seven Malaysia Super League (MSL) crowns to his name.
“It’s not just me, it’ll also be Gabriel’s (Quak) first as well. It’s also long overdue for my teammates like Hassan Sunny (who last won with Warriors FC in 2014) and Shahdan Sulaiman (who won with Tampines back in 2013). It’s been a while since we had a local side winning the title so it would be something nice for the fans,” said the 30-year-old.
“The first title is always the most difficult. I remember in my early years at JDT, we were facing strong competition from Pahang, Kedah and Selangor. The most important thing is to get across the finishing line and build on from there in the seasons to come.”
This Sunday, the Lion City Sailors will battle for the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title on the final matchday of the season (10 October). And while the players are firmly fixing their gaze on the Balestier Khalsa match at the Jalan Besar Stadium, the club will be well represented at the 2021 Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Awards Night that follows two days later.
Stipe Plazibat, with 14 goals and seven assists to his name in 17 appearances this year, is one of three nominees for the AIA Player of the Year award, his second consecutive nomination for the award.
He is joined on the nominees list by teammate Jorge Fellipe. The 32-year-old Brazilian has been a giant in defence and also equally important in the attacking third, scoring important goals – most notably against Albirex Niigata (S) and Young Lions – to keep the Sailors’ title hopes on track.
Hougang United’s Tomoyuki Doi – the league’s current top scorer with 19 goals in 20 matches – rounds up the nominees list for the award that was won by Sailors’ attacker Gabriel Quak last year.
Saifullah Akbar stood alongside Gabriel on stage in 2020, winning the AIA Young Player of the Year, and the 22-year-old midfielder is once again among the nominees for players aged 23 or under.
He will have to beat off competition from Albirex’s Ryoya Taniguchi – the White Swans’ leading goalscorer (nine) and assist-provider (eight) this year – as well as teammate Nur Adam Abdullah.
Nur Adam has been a picture of consistency in his debut season with the Sailors, making the left-back spot his own, with an eye-catching swashbuckling style.
There will be 10 award categories at the awards ceremony to be held at the Aux Media Studio. This is one more than last year, with the new Golden Glove Award – presented to the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in the SPL – for the first time.
Albirex custodian Takahiro Koga will become the SPL’s first Golden Glove winner. He has racked up eight clean sheets, three more than the next closest goalkeeper and cannot be overtaken with one game left to play.
The Sailors were big winners last year with Gabriel and Saifullah taking the biggest individual awards and Stipe named as league’s top-scorer.
The appointment of Kim Do-hoon as Lion City Sailors’ new head coach in May made waves in the local football fraternity. It was a move signalling the Sailors’ lofty ambitions to not just dominate the Singapore Premier League (SPL), but also a step towards growing into one of the best clubs in the region.
After all, the 51-year-old has won the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) with K League 1 side Ulsan Hyundai as recently as last December. He also has a proven track record of improving the playing style and results of teams that he managed in his native Korea.
Just over three months since Kim officially came on board in late June, it already appears things are working out well. The Sailors are unbeaten in nine matches under him, with the report card showing five wins and four draws.
Kim is pleased with what his side has dished out on the pitch so far – both in terms of results and performance – and a key reason behind that is the Sailors’ firm commitment to adapt to his demands.
“A club like ours is expected to win every game and we know the expectations that are put on us. We’ve not been able to do so, but in every match there have certainly been positives that we can take away,” reflected the South Korean.
“The fact that we’ve been maintaining an unbeaten run shows that this team has a lot of grit and character.”
Coming into a team that already has the tools to succeed, Kim knew he had to manage things delicately and not throw the baby out with the bathwater. In short, change needed to come via evolution, not revolution – no matter how successful his methods were at Ulsan.
The first order of business, team cohesion.
From Day One, he moved to establish a club rule: players and officials form a circle before training sessions giving high-fives to one another. After the sessions, they will gather and clap three times before they leave. It is something centre-back Tajeli Salamat noted has improved the morale and vibe within the team.
“Building a positive club culture is very important to me,” said Kim. “At Ulsan, I established something similar. I want the players to not only feel a sense of belonging to the club, but feel like they’re part of a family together.”
And this has had an impact on the pitch. The Sailors are becoming a hardworking team that fights for the ball and are compact at the back, an improvement that complements their slick attacking qualities that were already in place.
But it was not all plain smooth-sailing.
The Sailors drew his first two matches in 1-1 draws against Albirex Niigata (S) and Balestier Khalsa. In the latter game, they struggled to break down a gritty Tigers outfit and had to rely on a 95th-minute Stipe Plazibat penalty to rescue a point.
That copped quite a bit of criticism on social media, but the Sailors committed to the change, and were confident of the work in progress, and duly delivered Kim’s first win in style, with a 4-1 thrashing of Tampines Rovers.
“Of course winning is always important, but time is needed for players to adapt to new tactics,” explained Kim. “Even during the first two games, the players and staff were committed to the philosophies that I’ve introduced, and I had confidence in them.
“The win over Tampines only served to enhance the confidence in what we’re doing.”
Under Kim, training has also been more physical and intense. The impact is undeniable. The Sailors have shown an improved ability to last throughout matches, coming from behind four times under his charge to rescue points.
One of those was a 3-1 win over Young Lions, a match in which they scored late goals to turn things around after trailing at half-time.
“Lasting the 90 minutes both physically and mentally has to be a basic for football players,” asserted Kim. “I’m happy to see how the players are able to do that and have always responded well to my training regime.”
Kim has also displayed a shrewd ability to get the best out of a quality squad. Under his charge, the likes of Tajeli Salamat, Song Ui-young and Hafiz Nor have been revitalised, including Faris Ramli who has racked up two goals and five assists in nine outings, this after just one goal and one assist in his first 10 appearances this season.
“I truly believe in squad rotation – giving everyone a chance to show what they got and also keep them match fit,” he said. “Keeping morale high is important for team cohesion. Furthermore, injuries can happen anytime and we need all players to be ready. Rotation of players therefore keeps the squad fresh and ready.”
The hard work and persistence could be rewarded handsomely. The Sailors are now on the verge of a first-ever SPL title. Having remained hot on the heels of Albirex all season, they took over at the summit at the end of Matchweek 20 and will now go into the final day of fixtures with destiny in their own hands.
Level on points with the White Swans albeit with a better goal difference, all the Sailors have to do is to equal or better Albirex’s result on 10 October to get their hands on the big prize.
Kim is proud of how far the team has come.
“The boys have been very cooperative and have shown a strong willingness to learn. It’s never easy to learn things under time constraints, but they’ve done really well to commit to what I’ve implemented for them,” said Kim.
“The team now looks more in sync, like a well-oiled machine. There’s definitely a better understanding in terms of attack and communication in defence. We’ve not just improved physically, but also mentally with increased durations of focus.
“We kept our heads high and carried on as professionals to win the next two games after dropping two points against Albirex (in September’s 1-1 draw). That is a huge credit to the team’s fighting spirit and winning mentality.”
While the focus is on winning the SPL, Kim has already set his sights on a bigger goal – excelling in the ACL next season.
“The players will deserve to celebrate and have a good rest after this season, but once we return, they know there’s more work to be done ahead of the ACL,” he said. “We have to continue to work hard together to forge higher standards for other Singaporean players and clubs to aspire to.”
A tasty season finale awaits
After a roller-coaster year of twists, turns and even corkscrews, the 2021 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season will come to a close this Sunday (10 October).
The Lion City Sailors now sit atop the eight-team SPL standings, ahead of Albirex Niigata (S) on goal difference, and will host Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium at 5.30pm.
Victory could seal the Sailors’ first SPL title, but that will of course depend on the result of the Tanjong Pagar United-Albirex match happening at the same time.
The Sailors are heartened to have seen sensational support in stadiums across the island since restrictions were loosened to allow for 1,000 Singapore football fans into SPL matches.
We look forward to your continued support as we bring one of the most thrilling SPL seasons to a close.
Ticketing Information
Season Pass 2020 & 2021 – Complimentary
Adult – $15
Concession – $5
Each Season Pass is entitled to redeem 2 tickets.
Non-season pass holders may purchase up to 5 tickets
*Concession tickets are applicable to the following, with Concession Cards and a recent Photo ID requested upon entry for verification purposes:
– Students aged 16 and below with a valid Student Concession Card,
– Senior Citizens aged 60 and above with a valid Senior Citizen Concession Card.
Ticket Sales
North Entrance of Jalan Besar Stadium
1500hrs-1530hrs: Season Pass Redemption
1530hrs-1730hrs: Season Pass Redemption and General Sale
Conditions of Entry
The following conditions must be met for entry to SPL matches:
- Individuals must have completed the full vaccination regimen including the two-week (14 days) period after the second dose for the vaccination to take effect. Eligible vaccines include the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or any other vaccine in the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL), including Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca.
- Fans who produce proof of a negative Antigen Rapid Test (ART) result, will also be allowed entry. The ART must be valid until the end of the event and must be taken at a Ministry of Health-certified ART practitioner; self-test kit results will not be valid for use of entry.
- Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 will be exempted from having to produce a negative ART result, but will need to present a Pre-Event Test Exemption Notice from any clinic offering ART or PCR testing services.
- Fans are required to produce proof of their completed vaccination status via the TraceTogether or the HealthHub app on their mobile phone, proof of negative ART test or Pre-Event Test Exemption Notice along with a valid form of identification such as NRIC or driver’s licence for verification purposes.
- Individuals aged 12 years and below are allowed entry for SPL capped at 20% of the actual event size.
As the final whistle sounded at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday night (26 September), Lion City Sailors fans jumped off seats and threw their hands into the Tampines sky.
But their wild jubilation was not matched out on the pitch – there were no big celebrations by the Sailors players, even after turning in an accomplished performance to beat Geylang International 3-0 in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
It was such a significant result in the SPL title race, but amongst the Sailors there were only simple congratulatory handshakes and hugs between each other.
The result meant the Sailors leapfrogged Albirex Niigata (S) to go on top of their eight-team standings, based on a superior goal difference (+35 as compared to the White Swans’ +31), with both sides level on 45 points.
Having played catch-up all year, Kim Do-hoon’s men will now go into the final round of fixtures on 10 October on the top of the table and hold destiny in their own hands.
“There’s one more game to go in two weeks’ time, and we have to stay focused,” explained forward Stipe Plazibat, who was watching from the stands for the third straight game due to an ankle injury.
“We must make sure we prepare very well for this last match of the season and hopefully we can celebrate after that – no problem.”
The Geylang result was a huge step towards winning a first-ever league trophy, but the Sailors have one final obstacle that stands between them and a proper celebration – Balestier Khalsa, their opponents in their final league match.
“We’re now top of the table because of all the hard work that we put in throughout the season, but nothing’s done yet,” emphasised Stipe.
The Sailors have beaten Geylang in every encounter since their 2020 inception, but this latest victory was not as straightforward as the scoreline suggests.
The Eagles put up a battling display in front of a boisterous home crowd in the first half-hour of the match, and gave the Sailors some food for thought. This despite having to self-isolate for 10 days due to a positive COVID-19 case in the squad and losing four out of their last five fixtures.
That sturdy battling display only started to come apart at the seams when Faris Ramli capitalised on an Afiq Yunos error to sweep the Sailors ahead in the 32nd minute.
Watching from the stands, Stipe felt the occasion got to the team a little.
“After Albirex dropped points on Friday (in a 0-0 draw with Tampines Rovers), there was certainly that extra pressure of getting a result, and that maybe resulted in our slow start,” said the Croatian.
“After the first goal, you can see the boys were much more relaxed and confident. We began to play our usual brand of attacking football and everything was quite smooth after that.”
Seven minutes after the deadlock was broken, the Sailors made it 2-0, with Song stabbing home from six yards out after great work by Tajeli Salamat down the right.
That was the Singaporean’s third goal in two games – following a brace in last Tuesday’s 6-1 win over Tampines – as he continued to impress in Stipe’s absence.
“It’s sad for me not to be fit to play, but I’m happy to see Song filling in very well as a striker,” said Stipe, who has scored 14 goals and chalked up seven assists in 17 appearances this season, before picking up the ankle injury against Young Lions earlier this month.
“He had to make the jump up from midfield to play as a striker which is not his natural position. But he’s such a dedicated player who is willing to do everything for the team – he’s a fantastic guy who can adapt very well. We talk a lot and I try to help him as much as I can.”
Barring a couple of nervy moments, the Sailors were generally in control throughout the game with the all-Singaporean centre-back pairing of Hariss Harun and Amirul Adli barely giving a yard to the Geylang strike duo of Matheus Moresche and Amy Recha.
Four minutes from time, the victory was sealed with substitute Hafiz Nor capitalising on yet another Geylang defensive error to fire past Zaiful Nizam.
The 3-0 win also meant the Sailors picked up their first clean sheet after nine matches under Kim – another satisfying takeaway for the team.
“Defensively we were very solid as a team – not just Hariss and Adli, but also Nur Adam (Abdullah) and Taj (Tajeli). So we definitely deserved this clean sheet,” said Stipe.
“And three mistakes from Geylang, three goals. It’s nice to see us being so clinical in front of goal.”
It will all come down to the final matchday on 10 October as the Sailors entertain Balestier at home while Albirex face Tanjong Pagar United. And simple mathematics will come into play: Albirex will have to better the Sailors’ result on the day to nick the SPL title, and if the Sailors beat Balestier, Albirex must also win – but by a margin of five more goals.
For example, if the Sailors win 1-0, Albirex must beat the Jaguars at least 6-0.
Stipe is looking forward to a strong crowd turning up at the Jalan Besar Stadium on that day to help push the Sailors over the line.
“We saw the reception and noise the fans gave us at our home matches recently – football’s nothing without fans really,” he said.
“I really hope all of them turn up in full force again on 10 October. That will give the team all the energy from the stands and hopefully we can have a big celebration to repay their support at the end of everything.”
The hotly-contested Singapore Premier League (SPL) title race has been blown wide open with just two games left to play, and the ball is back in the court of the Lion City Sailors.
With leaders Albirex Niigata (S) being held to a shock 0-0 draw by Tampines Rovers on Friday (24 September), Kim Do-hoon’s men could take full advantage come Sunday night (26 September) when they visit Geylang International at Our Tampines Hub.
Trailing Albirex by three points, a victory against the Eagles will see the Sailors leapfrog the defending champions – on goal difference – and take the initiative going into the final round of matches on 10 October.
Tampines’ sturdy defensive showing on Friday provided yet another twist in the title race, this time presenting the Sailors with a golden opportunity – their destiny is now back in their own hands.
A week ago, the Sailors had a similar chance, holding a 1-0 lead over the White Swans for some 70 minutes, but that was scuppered when they conceded a 94th-minute equaliser.
“We were so disappointed after that game against Albirex, but we never gave up the fight for the title,” said centre-back Amirul Adli. “We went out there and did our job to beat Tampines (6-1) on Tuesday and now this (Albirex’s draw with Tampines) is an opportunity that is calling out for us.
“And we must grab it with both hands.”
Geylang has not enjoyed the best of seasons, languishing second-from-bottom in the eight-team table after losing four of their last five matches.
Noor Ali’s side have not had the most ideal of preparations for this game, only resuming training earlier in the week after having to self-isolate for 10 days due to a positive COVID-19 case that was detected amongst the squad.
History also favours the Sailors who have won both encounters this season – including a handsome 8-0 win in their last visit to OTH back in April.
But the Sailors are not taking anything for granted.
“We may be the favourites to win this game, but no one is writing off Geylang – they’re definitely not an easy team to play against and they’ll be doing their best out there against us,” said Sailors’ versatile defender, Tajeli Salamat.
“Geylang will want to put up a strong performance for their fans, and we have to be ready to fight, give our 100 percent and make sure we leave everything we have on the pitch.”
The Sailors have had to adjust to a demanding style and philosophy under Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League-winning coach Kim who came on board in June, and have excelled and remained hot on the heels of Albirex – who have been top since Matchweek 1.
Now on a club-record 16-game unbeaten run, the Sailors are reaping the rewards of their hard work as they are poised to claim pole position at this crucial juncture of the season.
Tajeli believes the arrival of Kim has played a huge role in the Sailors’ sustained title challenge – not least transforming the culture of the team in little details.
“There have been some changes under him – the most distinct is everyone having to form a circle before morning training where each player and official give high-fives to one another. Then after the session ends, he will gather us together and get us to clap three times before we go off,” revealed the 27-year-old.
“These are little things that may not seem significant, but it has done a lot to improve the morale and vibe within the team. From day one, he instilled a hunger and winning mentality in us. I must say everything has been going according to plan under him.”
Kim has also demonstrated an uncanny ability to get the best out of players who were not playing regularly before his arrival.
Along with the likes of Faris Ramli, Hafiz Nor and Adam Swandi, Tajeli has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. He has started five of the last six matches at right-back, this after an eight-game spell midway through the season where he did not get a single minute of game time.
“Of course it was really frustrating not to be playing. It’s never easy being at a big club, but I guess patience is a virtue,” said the defender, who was part of the 2020 SPL Team of the Year. “I fought really hard every single day in training to be back in the team and I’m happy that Coach Kim can see that.
“It’s great having a coach like him who’s willing to take risks and rotate players. He gives us freedom to show our abilities in every single training and game, and that has kept me going. Now that I’ve been given this opportunity to play, I don’t ever want to lose it.”
Now Tajeli and Adli are both looking forward to the prospect of getting their hands on the coveted SPL trophy, in what will be a first-ever league title in their respective careers.
“It will be the first trophy for the club and I really want to be part of that history,” said Adli. “I’ve won the (2019) Singapore Cup and (2020) Charity Shield (with Tampines), so a league title would complete the whole set for me nicely.”
“It’s not done yet, so we have to take our final two matches seriously and cross the finish line strongly,” he added.
“It would mean the world to me because I’ve been dreaming to win the local league since the day I started my football career,” added Tajeli, who is into his second season with the Sailors.
“It would be an unbelievable feeling to see all the hard work and sweat paying off at the end of the season.”
Kim Do-hoon’s men came away from Our Tampines Hub (OTH) on Tuesday night (21 September) with a thumping 6-1 win over Tampines Rovers, sending a clear statement of intent – the Lion City Sailors’ Singapore Premier League (SPL) title challenge is not over just yet.
The handsome victory narrowed the gap between them and leaders Albirex Niigata (S) to just two points going into the final two rounds of games.
Sailors’ attacker Song Ui-young was pleased with the team’s professional display against the Stags and he urged his comrades to keep their heads in the game in what is the final stretch of the SPL season.
“Yes, it was such an important win to keep us in the race for the title. You can see how much desire the team has to become champions,” said the 27-year-old. “Now we must keep our focus to win our last two games and see whether that’s enough for us to win the trophy.”
Just four days ago, the Sailors were gutted by a last-gasp Albirex equaliser in a 1-1 draw between the two sides that swung the title pendulum the White Swans’ way. In Hariss Harun’s words, that setback “took a lot out of the team physically and psychologically”.
The Sailors had to recover fast for another tough battle against last season’s runner-ups Tampines and at OTH, they did exactly that.
The match could have gone either way after Haiqal Pashia’s close-range finish just before half time was cancelled out by Hariss’s unfortunate own goal in the 51st minute. But instead of freezing, the Sailors rose to the challenge and blew the Stags out of the water with a five-goal blitz – in just 23 minutes.
Gabriel Quak’s thumping volley in the 56th minute put the Sailors back in front and gave them the belief to go for the kill. Pushing forward in numbers, Song and Faris Ramli reaped the dividends as they benefited from Tampines defensive lapses to put their side 4-1 up by the 73rd minute.
Nur Adam Abdullah’s cross was then scuffed into his own net by Tampines captain Daniel Bennett before Song applied the finishing touch to a lethal counter-attacking move to complete the rout with 11 minutes to go.
The avalanche of goals meant the Sailors now hold a better goal difference than Albirex (32 as compared to the White Swans’ 31) and that could well prove to be the deciding factor for the title – should both teams finish level on points after 21 matches.
Reflecting on the team’s ruthless second-half display, Song said that this is the least they could do for their faithful supporters who made the trip to the East on a weekday night.
“Even though we were winning, we cannot stop running and fighting. We’ve to do our best and score as many as we can until the final whistle,” elaborated the newly-minted Singaporean.
“That’s what Coach Kim ordered us to do… These goals are for the fans who always give us their strongest support and make the effort to travel to watch us wherever we play.”
Song’s brace against Tampines meant he is finally back on the goal trail after he last netted a brace in a 5-0 win over Tanjong Pagar United back in March. It also brought extra significance as those were his first goals as a Singaporean since he was granted citizenship on 20 August.
Song is well-respected by the fans for his dedication and willingness to sacrifice for the cause. Those qualities have enabled him to shine in the Sailors’ last couple of matches, as he filled the void left by the injured Stipe Plazibat with minimal fuss and maximum efficiency.
“I played many games as a false nine in the 2018 season for Home United, but as an out-and-out no. 9 I cannot remember when was the last time!” he said, chuckling.
“Of course it’s different as compared to playing in midfield, so I have to prepare and focus more, but I’ll always do my job in whatever role the coach gives me because I love this team.
“It’s very meaningful for me to score as a Singaporean now and I want to continue to enjoy this feeling – to score and help my team to victory.”
The victory over the Stags meant the Sailors have sealed qualification to the 2022 AFC Champions League (ACL) group stages by virtue of finishing as this season’s best-placed local team.
The prospect of testing their wits against some of Asia’s best is one that Song is looking forward to, but he is keeping his gaze on the more immediate task at hand – to help the Sailors win their first-ever SPL title.
The Sailors will return to OTH on Sunday (26 Sep) to face Geylang International in their penultimate game of the season – two days after Albirex host Tampines at the Jurong East Stadium.
“It’s a big motivation for us to be competing at the highest level next season. We’ve got to be stronger, faster physically and mentally to get good results in this competition,” said Song.
“While we’ve achieved our target to reach the ACL, we will not give up on this chase for the title. We’ve been working so hard all season for this objective and it’s not over until it’s over. Even if Albirex wins on Friday, we’ll still have to go all out to beat Geylang.”
Final SPL matchday postponed to 10 Oct
The Lion City Sailors final fixture of the 2021 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season – against Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium – has been moved to Sunday, 10 October.
Initially scheduled to face the Tigers on the preceding Saturday (2 Oct), the postponement comes in the wake of a Balestier player testing positive for Covid-19.
After facing Tampines Rovers this evening (21 Sep) and Geylang International on Sunday (26 Sep), the Sailors will have almost a two-week lull to prepare for the season finale that will see all eight teams in action on 10 Oct, with kickoff scheduled for 5.30pm.
Title rivals Albirex Niigata (S) will face Tanjong Pagar United at the Jurong East Stadium, while Hougang United, the closest local club in the chase for Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) spot, face the Young Lions.
We must keep our eyes on the prize: Hariss
Last Friday night (17 September), Kim Do-hoon’s men left it all out on the pitch. The Lion City Sailors ran their socks off and held the fort admirably for the majority of the match after Haiqal Pashia’s 23rd-minute goal.
They were looking good value for three points, before a late Albirex equaliser with seconds left to play saw the match end 1-1, completely altering the complexion of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title race.
From possibly seizing control of their own fate to now having the destination of the SPL trophy out of their own hands, that Ryoya Taniguchi goal was a huge body blow for the Sailors.
But the Lion City Sailors have little time to brood – their next task is already at hand. On Tuesday night (21 September) the Sailors line up against a rejuvenated Tampines Rovers at Our Tampines Hub.
Admitting that the result “took a lot out of the team physically and psychologically”, Hariss Harun knows the boys have to recover fast with still everything to play for.
“We lost focus and concentration in the final minute – that’s a huge and expensive lesson for us – and now we have to pick ourselves up to navigate these last three games,” said the 30-year-old.
“It’s not over yet, so we have to make sure if Albirex do drop points, that we’re still there to capitalise.”
Still five points behind Albirex with a game in hand, the Sailors have to win their final three matches and hope the champions drop points in either of their last two games.
“After the game we did the customary ice baths. Then on Saturday and Sunday, it was a lot about active recovery – stretches and massages – to keep it light and easy to free the players’ minds after what happened,” said Hariss. “It’s just important to get that out of our systems and focus on what’s ahead.”
Having been a part of a dominant Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) side that have dominated football north of the Causeway for the past decade, the six-time Malaysia Super League (MSL) winner sees some parallels between the Sailors and his former team.
And he urged the Sailors to live up to that potential and stay the course under a proven head honcho in Kim – one that won the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League just last December with Ulsan Hyundai, no less.
“Technically, we have some of the best players in the league. Character and mentality-wise, maybe we still have to grow a bit more,” said Hariss, who played the full 90 minutes in six out of seven matches since joining the club in the mid-season transfer window.
“We have to learn to keep pushing and not give up in moments like this. At JDT, we had to overcome many things to win our first title in 2014 before the run of success came. So at the Sailors now, we have to keep going under Coach Kim.
“It’s not easy for him to come in during the middle of the season to lay down his philosophy. It’s a different philosophy under him, but we’ve done quite well to adapt as quickly as possible and we’ve been doing what he demands from us. We just have to keep faith with him and keep learning what he has for us – as long as we do that, the success will naturally follow.”
There is still much at stake on Tuesday – a win against the Stags will secure the Sailors’ spot in the 2022 ACL group stages as the SPL’s best-placed local team.
No stranger to the continental club competition, Hariss wants his side to aim high and go toe-to-toe with some of the best sides in Asia.
“It’s huge to be involved in the ACL and I know how excited the boys will be if we make it there next season. Already some of them have come to me asking how it was like playing against (Vissel Kobe’s) Andrés Iniesta,” said the Singapore national team captain, who represented JDT in the 2019 and 2020 ACL.
But right now, the focus must turn to beating Tampines, and Hariss believes Gavin Lee’s men should not be written off despite the Stags’ recent torrid run of form.
Edging out the Young Lions 2-1 over the weekend for their first win in seven league matches, fourth-placed Tampines have not enjoyed the best of seasons, but still have quality players like Zehrudin Mehmedović, Boris Kopitović and Kyoga Nakamura in their ranks.
Hariss drew inspiration from the commitment and desire that the Sailors demonstrated against Albirex last week, and he called for the same drive from his teammates.
“Tampines are not an easy team to beat. Don’t forget they competed in the ACL only recently,” reflected Hariss. “We’ve got to go out there with a high-level performance to be able to get a victory.”
As the final whistle sounded at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night, a number of heads hung low while some in the Lion City Sailors ranks sank into the ground – and understandably so.
Kim Do-hoon’s men held a 1-0 lead over Singapore Premier League (SPL) title rivals Albirex Niigata (S) for 70-odd minutes after Haiqal Pashia’s goal midway through the first half (23rd minute) and managed to keep the White Swans at bay with an outstanding rearguard display.
The Sailors looked like they had done enough to see out a victory, but with just seconds left to play, the Sailors failed to pick up the run of Ryoya Taniguchi, whose header trickled over the line.
That last-gasp goal saw the game end 1-1 and ensured that Albirex remain five points ahead of the Sailors – albeit having played a game more – and with the Sailors having just three games left to play, the title pendulum has swung back in favour of Albirex.
“It’s surely not over and mathematically it’s still on. We just have to focus on ourselves to get the remaining nine points and hope Albirex drop points somewhere,” said Sailors captain Hassan Sunny, refusing to throw in the towel.
The Sailors will now have to win their final three respective matches against Tampines Rovers, Geylang International and Balestier Khalsa, while hoping Albirex drop points against either Tampines or Tanjong Pagar United in their final two outings to get their hands on the coveted SPL trophy.
“It’s not impossible – Tampines are still a very good team and Tanjong Pagar managed to beat Albirex only recently. So stranger things have happened,” added the Singapore international.
Reflecting on the Albirex equaliser, Hassan admitted his side “only have themselves to blame” for not dealing better with that situation.
“We should have done better to cut out their long ball and be smarter in terms of killing the game,” said the 37-year-old. “This just goes to show that football is truly about the 90 to 95 minutes – just one lapse of concentration cost us the three points and we must learn from this.”
Those who watched the game could not help but wonder if the goal could be prevented if Jorge Fellipe was still on the pitch.
The 32-year-old – who was the Sailors’ two-goal hero the last time out – had to be replaced by Amirul Adli in the 55th minute after going down with an ankle injury. Up until that point, the towering 1.9m Brazilian defender had been immense at the heart of the Sailors defence and winning almost every aerial duel.
“We definitely missed his presence at the back,” reflected Hassan. “With him around, we didn’t need to worry that much about those aerial balls. When he went out, we simply didn’t have someone of his stature and abilities to fill in for him. Hopefully he recovers fast enough for the next game.”
The Sailors would surely look back on this game as two points lost after putting up a creditable display for the majority of the match to stifle a well-drilled White Swans side in front of a partisan 1000-strong Jalan Besar crowd.
Song Ui-Young did an admirable job to fill the void of the injured Stipe Plazibat upfront with his industry and willingness to press the Albirex defenders whenever they were in possession. It was the newly-minted Singaporean who started the lovely move for the Sailors goal.
Playing a simple pass to Gabriel Quak, the latter then released Faris Ramli – who raced down the right before whipping in an inch-perfect low cross for Pashia to fire past Takahiro Koga from close range.
Pashia could have made it 2-0 just before half time following a similar passage of play on the right wing, but from six yards out, he somehow fired wide of the gaping Albirex goal.
Gabriel then struck the bar from a tight angle just minutes after the restart, while substitute Hafiz Nor also had a shot from outside the box turned around the post by Koga.
For the last half-hour, the Sailors worked incredibly hard to keep Albirex at bay. Adli did reasonably well to deputise for Jorge alongside Hariss in defence, with full-backs Tajeli Salamat and Nur Adam Abdullah also putting their bodies on the line.
Nur Adam did well to cope with the double threat of Kazuki Hashioka and Kuraba Kondo down the Sailors’ left flank, while Hassan was assured in the Sailors goal, pulling off a wonder save to deny Taniguchi late on, but was powerless to stop the latter from converting the equaliser thereafter.
Despite the huge body blow to the Sailors, Hassan called for the Sailors to focus on the next task at hand – an away game against fourth-placed Tampines on Tuesday (21 Sep) night.
“I think everyone can see we played well and the boys really ran their lungs out,” said the custodian who has 85 Singapore caps to his name. “Now the game’s over and we need to move on. There’s no point pointing fingers at anyone. We have to stick together as a team.
“I told the boys that this is just one of those games where we gave everything but things didn’t go our way. We’ve to fight in our last three games like how we did against Albirex,” he added.
“I can assure you that everyone in this team is mentally strong and we cannot wait to redeem ourselves against Tampines.”
