Category: News
Three weeks after a heartbreaking last-minute 3-2 defeat to Indonesia’s Persib Bandung, the Lion City Sailors return to AFC Champions League (ACL) Two action with a challenging away fixture against Chinese Super League (CSL) side Zhejiang Professional at the Yellow Dragon Sports Center in Hangzhou on Thursday (28 November) night.
A Zhejiang side in a desperate situation
The hosts will be eager to make a statement, as their ACL Two campaign so far has fallen short of expectations.
Placed in Group F alongside three Southeast Asian clubs, Zhejiang were widely regarded as favourites to secure a top-two finish and progress to the knockout stages. However, they currently find themselves at the bottom of the table with just three points from four matches.
Their campaign began with a 2-0 loss to the Sailors in Singapore in September. Although they bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Persib on Matchday Two, consecutive defeats home and away against Thailand’s Port FC have left their hopes hanging by a thread.
Nothing less than a win will keep their chances of progression alive, but their bid is hindered by the suspension of three players — including talismanic striker Leonardo, the second-highest scorer in the recently concluded 2024 CSL season with 21 goals from 29 matches.
On a brighter note, captain Franko Andrijašević is available for selection after recovering from the injury that ruled him out of the first encounter with the Sailors. The former Croatian international has scored in each of his last two appearances in all competitions.
At the pre-match press conference, Zhejiang head coach Jordi Vinyals emphasised the importance of the upcoming clash.
“Tomorrow night’s game means a lot to us because it’s our final home match of the group stage. It’s an AFC Champions League Two fixture, and we want to take all three points to secure progression to the next stage. We’ll show our determination and deliver a great performance for our fans,” he said.
“Of course, the Sailors have very strong foreign players and defend very well. We don’t want to see the kind of wrong judgments we experienced in the last game. We’ll try to make adjustments and capitalise on every chance to score.”
This has been a challenging year for Zhejiang, who finished seventh in the 16-team CSL — four places lower than their previous campaign — and suffered defeats in nearly half of their league matches (14 out of 30).
To make matters worse, they conceded 60 goals over the season, a tally exceeded only by last-placed and relegated Nantong Zhiyuan, who allowed 66. Their hopes of securing continental football next season now rest entirely on their ability to pull off something remarkable in ACL Two.
Reflecting on his team’s performance in the CSL this year, Vinyals said defiantly, “We believe we’ve improved this season compared to before. Obviously, we missed some key chances, but achieving a strong ranking was still a good outcome for us.
“In ACL Two, we faced many challenges but improved with every game. If we win tomorrow, it will be a great way to end the year.”
A battle against the crowd and the cold
Nonetheless, Zhejiang will be counting on their passionate home support to drive them to three crucial points. According to popular football stats website Transfermarkt, their home attendance in the recent 2024 CSL season averaged an impressive 19,805.
The strong support has carried over to their ACL Two campaign, with 23,931 fans turning up for their match against Persib on 3 October and 16,933 attending their clash with Port on 7 November at the Yellow Dragon Sports Center – numbers that are a clear testament to the unwavering loyalty of their fans.
“Obviously, there are a lot of fans coming to our matches. In fact, when we face difficult situations, they give us a lot of support and motivation to keep going,” said Zhejiang veteran winger Gu Bin.
“It’s our home court, and we’ll try our best to score and win the game for our fans, even though we know the opponents are a very strong team.”
Another advantage for the home side is their familiarity with the cold climate. Hangzhou, now in late autumn and transitioning to early winter, experiences average temperatures ranging from 14°C to 5°C — a stark contrast to Singapore’s tropical weather.
To help the players adapt to the chilly conditions, the Sailors have provided thermal innerwear and winter jackets, mirroring their preparations for last October’s clash against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Jeonju, South Korea.
Despite the challenging conditions, Sailors centre-back Toni Datković is confident in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion and deliver on Thursday night.
“As a European, I’m used to both winter and summer, so I’m happy to play in colder conditions because it’s easier to breathe,” said the former LaLiga 2 man, who played alongside Andrijašević in his solitary cap for the Croatia national team in 2017.
“That said, I know some of our local players may not be as acclimatised, but we are professionals, and we’ll give our all to represent the club in the best way possible here.
“For us and the entire team, this is a really important game — just like every other game in the group. We’ve already shown that we can beat them, and we’re determined to do it again and take one step closer to the knockout stages.”
Sailors still in a strong position
The Sailors’ loss to Persib three weeks ago was undoubtedly a setback, but they remain in a strong position to qualify for the knockout rounds, with their fate still firmly in their own hands.
With two matches remaining, the second-placed Sailors hold a three-point advantage over their nearest challengers, Persib. A positive result in Hangzhou, combined with a Port victory over Persib on the same night, would secure a historic qualification to the ACL Two’s last 16 for the Sailors.
Their cause is further strengthened by the return of Dutch midfielder Bart Ramselaar, who is back from a two-match suspension. He will team up with key players like Shawal Anuar and Maxime Lestienne as the Sailors remain focused on their mission to make Singapore football proud.
However, Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković acknowledged that they had faced several challenges in their preparation for the game, although he remains confident in his team’s readiness for the crucial clash.
“Our preparations haven’t been ideal. We’ve had some injury issues, and with the rainy season in Singapore, our pitches were completely under water a few times, so we had to improvise,” he explained. “Nonetheless, at this stage of the competition, we already know what we need to do.”
Ranko also discussed the Sailors’ tactics for the game, as he said, “The way we play sometimes depends on our opponents. It’s not just about transitions; we know when and how to execute in certain phases of the game.
“When we have the ball, the opponents are looking for the same answers. It’ll be a totally different game from the one in Singapore in terms of tactics.”
More than two weeks have passed, but Rui Pires still feels the sting of the Lion City Sailors’ 2-3 defeat to Persib Bandung in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two.
After all, by the 90th minute, the Sailors were leading 2-1 — a result that, as it turned out, would have been enough to send them into the next stage of the competition.
Instead, Persib staged a dramatic comeback with two late goals, sealing their victory and handing the Sailors their first defeat in ACL Two.
Rui, who started the game in midfield, admitted that the manner of the defeat was hard to take.
“It was difficult to sleep after that game against Persib… But this is football, and the good thing is that we still have two more games. For now, we’re in second position, and we still have a chance to progress,” said Rui.
“It was a loss that nobody expected, especially after the first half in which we completely controlled the game. Even in the second half, we were still in control and they didn’t create many chances.
“But in just five minutes, everything changed. One key lesson we took from that match is the need to stay focused for the full 95 to 100 minutes. This is an important lesson for us.”
Despite this defeat, the Sailors have enjoyed a successful ACL Two campaign so far, with impressive victories over China’s Zhejiang Professional and Thailand’s Port FC.
But these wins are not the Sailors’ first against highly regarded opponents in international competitions. Last season, they shocked Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-0 — a match in which Rui played the full 90 minutes — and also defeated Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC 2-1.
As the Sailors prepare to face Zhejiang and Port once more in their remaining ACL Two group stage fixtures, Rui believes the team can draw confidence from their strong performances on the continental stage to secure the results needed to advance to the knockout rounds.
“This is the Champions League. The level is, of course, higher, but we’ve already proven that we can compete with and beat any team in our group. We’re confident and have been training hard over the past two to three weeks.
“Now, we’re looking forward to the next two games,” said the Portuguese, who was named in the 2017 UEFA European U-19 Championship Team of the Tournament alongside Viktor Gyökeres, Mason Mount, and Diogo Dalot.
“Of course, the next game against Zhejiang is the most important for us, followed by the home match against Port. If we fight as a team, as we have in these two matches, we’ll let the results speak for themselves in the end.”
The Sailors will travel to Hangzhou this week to face a Zhejiang side currently at the bottom of the group with just three points.
The Green Giants recently finished 7th in the 2024 Chinese Super League season — a notable drop after securing third place in the two previous campaigns. Zhejiang are also winless in their last four matches across all competitions.
“Everyone believes in the team now because we’ve shown that we can play well and win. The atmosphere feels completely different — there’s a sense of confidence and expectation. In the past, maybe people thought it was more difficult. That belief is the most important thing for us,” said Rui.
The Sailors last featured in a Singapore Premier League (SPL) match on October 19, with the domestic league entering a break shortly after.
This hiatus has allowed the team to focus entirely on their continental objectives, but it also presents the challenge of maintaining match fitness without the rhythm of regular weekend games.
Rui, who missed the reverse fixture against Zhejiang, has been a key figure in the Sailors’ midfield. And the 26-year-old is eager to help the team bounce back from the heartbreak of their defeat to Persib.
“When you lose, you want to play again as soon as possible — if it were up to me, I’d play the very next day just to move on from the disappointment. But for us, over these three weeks, every night when I went to bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about that match,” shared the midfielder.
“We want to win every game, so losing in that manner was especially hard. We’ve analysed the match thoroughly and taken important lessons from the defeat.”
With no competitive action in recent weeks, the Sailors crossed the Causeway to face Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in their den on 16 November in an international club friendly.
The Sailors delivered a resilient performance despite missing eight players away on international duty, narrowly losing 1-0 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium against a team that regularly competes at the highest level of Asian club football, the ACL Elite.
“JDT are a strong team. They play in the ACL Elite and have many quality foreign players. But once again, we proved that we can compete against any opponent.
“Even the players who don’t get much game time showed that they’re ready whenever the coach needs them. It was a good friendly match for both teams in a fantastic stadium,” remarked Rui.
Now, though, the stage is set for the Sailors’ crucial penultimate fixture in the AFC Champions League Two against Zhejiang at the Yellow Dragon Sports Center — a venue that hosted FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in 2007.
Rui has urged his team to maintain their confidence and composure as they approach the critical stage of the competition.
He said, “We’re still in a good position. We’re second in the group, and the other teams would love to be where we are. We just need to believe in ourselves and replicate what we did in the previous matches.”
Five members of the Lion City Sailors’ 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) winning squad have been selected to represent the Singapore Women’s National Team at the upcoming ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Cup in Laos in late November.
Sailors Women’s vice-captain Syazwani Ruzi, along with Qarissa Putri, Natasha Naszri, Nurhidayu Naszri (pictured below), and attacker Cara Chang have been named in the 23-strong Lionesses squad for the newly introduced qualifying tournament for the ASEAN Women’s Championship, which is scheduled to take place in 2025.
Placed in Group A, Karim Bencherifa’s side will entertain Timor-Leste next Tuesday, 26 November before taking on hosts Laos three days later – with both matches to be played at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane.
The top two teams of the group will advance into the semi-finals. A third-place playoff and a final will follow on 5 December, with the eventual top three teams making it through to the tournament proper.
Two more finals.
That was the rallying cry from Lion City Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković to his players after their last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Indonesia’s Persib Bandung in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two on Thursday (7 November) night.
In front of a 3,152-strong crowd at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Ranko’s men were mere minutes away from making history and securing a spot in the ACL Two last-16.
However, two stoppage-time goals from Persib turned what initially seemed like a comfortable Sailors victory into a heartbreaking first ACL Two defeat for the hosts.
Group F’s other match also saw late drama, with Port FC clinching a 2-1 victory over Zhejiang Professional in China thanks to Felipe Amorim’s 90th-minute winner. The result pushed the Sailors down to second place in the group, though they remain three points ahead of third-placed Persib with two matches left to play.
This also means that Group F remains wide open, and all four teams can still qualify for the next round.
For Ranko, however, the equation is simple: Sailors must treat their remaining two Group F games as ‘finals’ and give everything to secure a place in the last 16.
“It’s an open group now — any of the four teams can progress to the knockout stage, so it’s going to be two finals for everyone,” Ranko said in his post-match press conference. “It’s a shame; had we won today, we’d already be through. But perhaps we’ll have to do it the hard way.”
However, the evening began swimmingly well for the Sailors, with the in-form Shawal Anuar giving the hosts the lead just nine minutes in.
Maxime’s brilliant long ball found the Singapore international, who took a touch to control it before expertly lobbing Kevin Ray Mendoza in the Persib goal, while the retreating Gustavo França could only watch in despair as the ball found its way into the net.
The Sailors doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Lionel Tan’s long throw-in was unwittingly flicked on to the back post by Persib defender Nick Kuipers, allowing Maxime Lestienne to get ahead of his marker and head the ball home.
This was Max’s first headed goal since joining the Sailors, with his last one coming for Standard Liege against KAS Eupen in the Belgian Pro League back in April 2021.
With a two-goal lead in hand, a confident Sailors side comfortably controlled the first half, and barely gave Persib a sniff at goal. The closest the visitors came to scoring was in the 26th minute, when Tyronne del Pino’s curler struck the crossbar.
Reflecting on his side’s dominant performance in the opening 45 minutes, Ranko said, “It was an excellent first half, and we should have finished the game. We played at home, so we wanted to attack quickly and make a statement with our actions, especially from our strikers. I think we played close to a perfect first half.”
The Sailors started the second half the same way they ended the first — on the front foot — and threatened the Persib goal through efforts from Shawal and Maxime. At the other end, Sailors goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud was called into action on the hour mark, tipping over Del Pino’s accurate strike.
Both teams made key changes in the 65th minute, with Sailors skipper Hariss Harun coming on for the home side, while Persib’s top scorer from last season, David da Silva, also joined the fray.
The Sailors came close to extending their lead and sealing the victory in the 79th minute when Christopher van Huizen delivered a pinpoint cross to Maxime, who directed a header towards goal, only for Persib centre-back França to make a superb clearance off the line.
That heroic piece of defending eventually proved to be more crucial than anyone could have anticipated.
Just three minutes later, the reigning Indonesian champions found their lifeline when centre-back Kuipers unleashed a long-range shot that struck the crossbar, and Da Silva reacted quickest to head in the rebound and pull a goal back for his side.
It was a goal that radically changed the complexion of the game, as Ranko explained: “I had a feeling they (Persib) gave up after 2-0, but we brought them back into the game with the 2-1 goal, so that’s on us.
“We need to be smarter. We need to keep the ball a little longer, not chase a third goal if it’s not on, and avoid giving the ball away too easily. That was the main message to the players, especially in the first half when we didn’t face much pressure from them.”
Indeed, the goal gave Persib the momentum they needed to press forward in the final minutes in search of an equaliser. And they thought they had found it in the 85th minute through Mailson Lima, but his strike was ruled out for a foul on Hafiz Nor.
With Port’s win over Zhejiang, the Sailors needed to secure a victory to guarantee qualification to the knockout rounds of the ACL Two.
Alas, it was not to be.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Croatian full-back Mateo Kocijan broke the hearts of the partisan crowd at Jalan Besar, as he unleashed a rocket into the net that Izwan could do nothing about and levelled it up at 2-2.
But worse was to come for the Singapore outfit, as just two minutes later, Del Pino broke free from the Sailors’ defence and kept his composure to score what proved to be the winner for Persib.
Despite the ‘cruel’ end to the game, Ranko struck an optimistic tone, insisting that his side has the quality to secure the necessary results in the remaining two group games and qualify for the next round of the ACL Two.
“In football, sometimes it can be very cruel, and out of nothing, you concede two goals. But it’s a tough pill to swallow,” the Serb admitted.
“However, we have to keep our heads up. This is part of the job, and we’ve shown we can compete with every opponent in this group. That’s exactly what we’ll continue to do. We have one more match at home.
“Today, luck turned its back on us. It’s a shame we had to lose this game, but that’s football.”
The Sailors now have a three-week break to regroup before travelling to China to face Zhejiang Professional on 28 November, a team they defeated 2-0 in the reverse fixture.
They will then wrap up the ACL Two group phase against Port a week later (5 December) at Jalan Besar Stadium, with that being the final match for the Sailors in 2024.
After two productive away trips that yielded four points, the Lion City Sailors return home to face reigning Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung in a crucial Group F Matchday Four tie, as they look to strengthen their bid to progress to the next round of the 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two.
The last time the Sailors played at home, they opened their campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over China’s Zhejiang Professional in September. However, they know this upcoming encounter against Persib will be anything but straightforward.
Win or bust for Persib
With Persib currently languishing at the bottom of Group F with one point from three matches – five adrift of second-placed Port FC, the Indonesian side knows they need nothing less than a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Persib’s only point so far came in a gritty 1-1 draw with the Sailors at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium two weeks ago, where they held on despite Dimas Drajad’s dismissal early in the second half.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Persib coach Bojan Hodak struck a defiant tone, and expressed confidence that his team is ready to make amends.
“This group is tough, and the other three teams are strong, the 53-year-old Croat said. “We were competitive in the first matches, but we were unlucky, which may have been due to inexperience.
“But with every game, we’re improving. Even in the last match (against the Sailors), I felt we were close to winning, but the red card made a difference, as we played with 10 men for half of the game. I hope tomorrow will be different, and that we can achieve a positive result.”
This time, the match will be played on the synthetic pitch of Jalan Besar Stadium — a slightly unfamiliar setting for Persib, but one they are determined to adapt to.
“To be honest, nobody likes playing on artificial pitches, but it’s something we can’t change,” said Hodak. “But we had a training session today, which should give the players enough time to adapt. They all have experience playing or training on artificial surfaces, but it’s definitely a disadvantage for teams outside of Singapore.”
Persib’s boost in personnel
While local star Drajad is set to miss out due to a three-match suspension following his dismissal against the Sailors, Persib will welcome prolific forward David da Silva back into the fold.
The 34-year-old Brazilian, who was last season’s Liga 1 top scorer with 30 goals in 34 matches, has joined Persib’s 20-man travelling squad after recovering from injury, and could feature for the Bandung outfit.
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Da Silva’s presence is a boost for an attack that has leaned heavily on compatriot Ciro Alves and Spanish playmaker Tyronne del Pino, who together have scored eight of Persib’s 18 league goals this season. Both players have been pivotal in Persib’s impressive start to the 2024/25 Liga 1 season; Hodak’s side remain the only unbeaten team after 10 matches and sit just one point off the top.
Persib were, however, frustrated in their most recent league outing last Friday (1 November), as they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-placed Semen Padang at home. And Hodak knows his team will have to step up their performance against a ‘dangerous’ Sailors side.
“The ACL Two is a different experience and a different level compared to the league,” said Hodak. “Unfortunately, our league schedule doesn’t help us, so we haven’t been able to field our best team. We’ve had to rotate players, and we’ve also had to deal with injuries and other issues.
“The Sailors have a very dangerous counterattack, with players like Maxime Lestienne, who have exceptional individual quality. They’re very disciplined and wait for the opponent to make mistakes.
“But I’m confident that if we play them with 11 men on the pitch, we can win this game.”
Brazilian defender Gustavo França, who joined the club from Portuguese second-division club C.D. Tondela in the off-season, added, “I’m sure it will be a tough game, especially since they (Sailors) have a good team. But I think we’re heading in the right direction, and our team is strong enough to perform well and get a positive result.”
Opportunity for Sailors to make history
Meanwhile, the mood in the Sailors camp is buoyant following a brilliant 3-1 away win against Port, which has put them at the top of Group F with seven points at the halfway stage of the Group Stage.
As such, the Sailors are in an excellent position to qualify for the ACL Two Round of 16 for the first time in the club’s history. A win against Persib, combined with a Port victory away against third-placed Zhejiang, would secure the Sailors’ place in the knockout stages with two games to spare.
Nonetheless Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković remains focused on the immediate task: to beat Persib and give the home fans another memorable night.
Under the Serb’s leadership, the Sailors have already defied expectations with home victories over South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Chinese opposition in successive years.
“Obviously the Port win gives the team a lot of confidence, but I have to say we didn’t lack any confidence even before that, and this group has shown that they have the resilience to cope with tough times,” said the former ADO Den Haag man.
“There’s a good atmosphere within this team and we want to continue this good start. We’ll have our fans behind us again, and we really love the crowd whenever we host continental matches. I hope the fans will come and fill up the stadium because it’ll be a huge boost for our players.
“If there’s a moment to fill up the stadium, this is it. I hope they will all come, as we want to achieve something historical for them.”
Dutch midfielder Bart Ramselaar will miss out as he serves the final match of his two-game suspension, but the Sailors still have ample quality in their ranks to trouble Persib, including the likes of Maxime Lestienne, Shawal Anuar, and Lennart Thy. The latter is especially eager to make his mark as he eyes his first continental goal for the Sailors.
“After what we did so far in this group, we’re all excited to play tomorrow — especially in front of our home crowd,” said Lennart, who represented Werder Bremen in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League.
“I had a good feeling from the first game when we defeated Zhejiang at home. We showed our level, we were compact and did what was asked of us. Everyone, including myself, is really looking forward to this game and I hope we can bring everything onto the pitch, just like what we did in the past few matches.”
Eight Lion City Sailors players have been called up to Tsutomu Ogura’s 26-strong Singapore National Team squad that will face Myanmar and Chinese Taipei in ‘A’ International Friendlies during the upcoming November international window.
Lions captain Hariss Harun, along with Hami Syahin, Abdul Rasaq Akeem, M. Anumanthan, and custodian Izwan Mahbud, have retained their places in the squad after participating in the October training camp in Japan, where the squad faced J1 League clubs such as FC Tokyo, Tokyo Verdy, and Yokohama F. Marinos in friendly matches.
Meanwhile, Christopher van Huizen, Lionel Tan (pictured above), and Shawal Anuar have been recalled following impressive performances in the Sailors’ ongoing Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two campaign.
The Sailors currently lead Group F in the ACL Two, ahead of Thailand’s Port FC, China’s Zhejiang Professional, and Indonesia’s Persib Bandung.
Shawal is set to make his first Lions appearance in eight months, with his last international outing being Singapore’s 4-1 defeat to China in a FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Round 2 qualifier in March.
The 33-year-old has netted 11 goals in 35 Lions appearances since making his national team debut in 2016.
The Lions will take on Myanmar on Thursday, 14 November, before facing Chinese Taipei four days later, with both matches scheduled to take place at the National Stadium.
As the ball looped over Port FC goalkeeper Worawut Srisupha, making it 3-1 to the Lion City Sailors, Song Uiyoung could not contain his joy.
Wheeling away in celebration, he instinctively slid on his knees and let out a passionate scream on the pristine grass at BG Stadium – raw emotions that have rarely been seen since his return to the Sailors in March.
This marked Song’s fifth goal since rejoining the Sailors, and it was undoubtedly his most memorable yet, as it helped his side secure a historic Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two win over one of the top teams in Thai League 1.
Recalling that moment, Song said, “We were under pressure at 2-1, and Port kept attacking. I was thinking, we need one more goal to close out the game. That’s why I was so motivated to score.
“When Shawal (Anuar) gave me the ball, I knew it was the chance… I had to wait a few seconds to see if the ball went in, and that goal was such a release of all the tension on the field. That’s why I celebrated the way I did, and it was important because the game changed entirely after that.”
The outpouring of emotion made for some brilliant visuals, with Song admitting he’s replayed the moment more than a few times.
“I saw the videos and photos… they really captured the emotions perfectly, and I’m very grateful to the photographers who took such great shots. It’s a special memory,” said Song, who was one of the Sailors’ standout players in their maiden ACL journey back in 2022.
Song’s tally of three goals then helped the Sailors achieve a record-breaking seven points — the highest-ever tally for a Singaporean club in the ACL group stage.
This time, the Sailors’ determination and unwavering commitment to showcase the best of Singapore football have taken them to the top of Group F — above teams from Thailand, China, and Indonesia — at the halfway point, with seven points from three matches.
“I don’t know what others feel, but within the team, we have a very strong mindset,” Song remarked. “We know we can challenge the best and compete at this level, even against some very strong teams.
“The ACL Two is a bigger stage with higher pressure, but it also brings greater motivation, and we’re embracing the opportunity to compete. We love the tempo and quality of these matches — it brings out the best in everyone on the team.”
While the Sailors are often feted for their roster of established European players, Song noted that it is important to recognise the equally vital contributions of the team’s local core, which includes the likes of Shawal (pictured above), Christopher van Huizen, and Hami Syahin.
“It’s a team effort, and I know the local players here are all of high quality. I’m happy to see them performing and proving they are big players who belong on this stage,” said Song, who has earned 25 caps for Singapore.
The Sailors will next host Indonesia Liga 1 side Persib Bandung on Matchday Four at Jalan Besar Stadium this Thursday (7 November), where a win would put them one step closer to securing a spot in the ACL Two Round of 16.
The visitors have only one point from three matches, gained from the 1-1 draw when the two sides last met at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium a fortnight ago.
While the Sailors stand on the brink of making history, Song has urged his teammates to stay grounded and avoid getting ahead of themselves.
“Yes, we’ve achieved good results so far, but that shouldn’t change our mindset. We need to keep focusing on every training session and match, rather than looking too far ahead,” said Song, who will celebrate his 31st birthday after the game (8 November).
“Creating history for the club would be incredibly meaningful, but it’s essential to recognise the importance of continuing to work together and putting in the effort that has brought us this far. If we stay focused, the results will follow.
“Persib are a very strong team; they’re performing well in the Indonesian league and play with a clear identity, so it’s going to be an intense match — and we need to be ready for the fight.”
The Lion City Sailors took a huge step towards qualifying for the next round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) Two, as they defeated Thailand’s Port FC 3-1 on Wednesday (30 October) night to go to the summit of Group F.
Shawal Anuar scored a quickfire double in the first-half, before assisting Song Uiyoung for the Sailors’ third after the break, as the Singapore Premier League (SPL) outfit stunned the home crowd at the BG Stadium in Pathum Thani into silence.
With this win, the Sailors remain unbeaten at the halfway mark of the group stage, having notched up two wins and one draw from their first three games in the competition.
This victory also marked the first time in 15 years that a Singaporean club has defeated a Thai team in Thailand in AFC competitions. The last team to do so was the now-defunct Singapore Armed Forces FC, who beat PEA FC (now Buriram United) 4-1 at the Rajamangala Stadium in the 2009 ACL preliminary round.
After the game, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković commended his players for achieving this landmark result.
“Port are a very tough opponent,” said the Serb. “I can’t recall the last time they conceded three goals, so all credit goes to my players. Earning seven points from our first three matches in the ACL Two is a testament to the team’s character, and I think we showed that tonight.”
The suspension of Bart Ramselaar saw Shawal Anuar return to the starting lineup, with Ranko otherwise keeping most of the same squad that began last week’s game against Persib Bandung.
Though the change was enforced, Shawal made the most of his opportunity, opening the scoring for the Sailors just 14 minutes in, with the 33-year-old latching onto Christopher van Huizen’s low cross into the box and calmly slotting it home.
Just three minutes later, the Sailors incredibly found themselves two goals up.
And it was that man Shawal again who made the difference, as the Singapore international latched onto a loose ball, took one touch, accelerated past his marker, before accurately finishing past Port goalkeeper Worawut Srisupha.
It was only the second time in the 2024/25 season that Port found themselves two goals down in a match, while the Sailors were in dreamland, leading 2-0 within 20 minutes for the first time this season, thanks to Shawal’s quickfire brace.
“Shawal is typically a central striker, but without Bart, we knew that playing between the lines isn’t really his strength,” Ranko shared in the post-match press conference. “We needed someone to support our second striker, and we observed that their central defenders tend to push forward aggressively.”
“That allowed Shawal to position himself just behind Lennart, creating ample space for him and Song to exploit. It’s a tactic we worked on over the past few days, and Shawal executed it perfectly.”
If Shawal was the standout in the Sailors’ attack, Hami Syahin was the defensive anchor, quietly excelling in an unfamiliar right wing-back position as he kept Port FC’s main threat, Kevin Deeromram, in check, limiting the home side’s chances in the first half.
After the break, the 2023/24 Thai League 1 second runners-up emerged revitalised, with Lonsana Doumbouya testing Izwan Mahbud with two headers in the opening five minutes of the second half.
The hosts’ pressure eventually paid off in the 55th minute, as Port managed to pull one back when a corner from Deeromram found Japanese midfielder Noboru Shimura, whose powerful header reduced the deficit to 2-1.
Ranko introduced skipper Hariss Harun shortly after, as the team absorbed much of Port’s pressure before Song restored the Sailors’ two-goal lead in the 65th minute.
The goal, which came somewhat against the run of play, required a stroke of luck — Song’s shot deflected off Suphanan, looping over a wrongfooted Srisupha and landing in the net.
“In the second half, we knew they would come at us strongly, and we needed to survive the first 15 minutes, which we didn’t,” Ranko noted. “But after the third goal, I think we defended very comfortably, especially my back line working together with our keeper — they defended really, really well today.”
That third goal silenced most of the 1,478 fans in attendance, and despite Willen Mota’s introduction in the final quarter, Port could do little to alter the scoreline.
Indeed, it was the Sailors who had the better chances in the closing stages of the game, with Lennart Thy just falling short in the final third on two occasions. But it ultimately mattered not, as the Sailors consigned their Thai opponents to just their second defeat in 15 matches in all competitions.
The away win in this rescheduled AFC Champions League Two fixture extends the Sailors’ strong run of form, and Ranko’s charges will now return home to prepare for their Matchday Four encounter against Indonesia’s Persib Bandung at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday, 7 November.
“We are very happy with where we are right now, and we’re looking forward to taking things match by match,” said a delighted Ranko. “Of course, we still have three matches to go, and we’ll do everything we can to reach the knockout phase.”
After a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Indonesia’s Persib Bandung at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium last Thursday (24 October), the Lion City Sailors are back on the road again – this time, to face 2023 Thai League 1 second runners-up Port FC in a rescheduled AFC Champions League (ACL) Two match on Wednesday (30 October) night.
Battle of the top two teams
The encounter at BG Stadium promises to be a fascinating showdown between the two unbeaten teams in Group F. Port FC currently lead the group with six points, two ahead of the Sailors in second place, while China’s Zhejiang Professional trail in third with three points.
Originally scheduled for 3 October, the match was postponed due to adverse weather and safety concerns, causing some frustration among Port fans who had travelled 42km from Khlong Toei to Pathum Thani that evening.
In the pre-match press conference, Port FC coach Rangsan Viwatchaichok emphasised the crucial role of fan support, with many expected to make the long journey once again.
“Even though we’re not playing at our home stadium, we need all our supporters to show up,” said the 45-year-old, whose team currently sits just two points off the top of Thai League 1 after 11 games.
“Of course, the atmosphere won’t be quite the same… They have to travel from Khlong Toei to get here, and while we may not have as many fans as usual, those who come will make a difference. We need them.”
A shift in dynamics
A lot has changed since three weeks ago when the teams were initially set to clash with Port’s two biggest Southeast Asian imports set to miss this encounter; Indonesian right-back Asnawi Mangkualam sustained a Grade 1 hamstring tear during their 3-2 victory over Nakhon Ratchasima on 21 October, while Singaporean centre-back Irfan Fandi is also a significant doubt due to injury.
However, Viwatchaichok remains confident in his team’s depth and resilience.
“We’ve had a busy schedule,” he said. “Some players are at risk of injury, but we’ve checked them, and they’re ready for tomorrow’s game.
“We know that a win here would boost our chances of qualifying for the next round, so we’re fully committed. Preparation has been strong, and we’ll be fielding our best starting XI for tomorrow.”
One key player Port will be relying on is Brazilian attacker Felipe Amorim.
Prior to 3 October, Amorim hadn’t found the net this season and was named among the substitutes on that rainy night. However, the former Fluminense player has since emerged as a crucial asset for Port, scoring in each of the last four matches across all competitions, including the decisive goal in last Thursday’s 1-0 win over Zhejiang.
But Port’s main threat remains Kevin Deeromram. The Swedish-born Thai full-back has amassed nine assists in 13 matches across all competitions, including a league-high seven.
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The connection between Deeromram and Amorim has been superb in recent games, with Deeromram providing identical assists across the six-yard box for Amorim to score against Zhejiang, and again in the 1-1 domestic league draw against Muangthong United three days later (27 October).
The ACL Two tie against the Sailors falls in the middle of a gruelling 15-day stretch, during which Port will play five matches. They will face title rivals Bangkok United just three days later on 2 November, before travelling to China to take on Zhejiang five days after that.
Despite their challenges, Deeromram is confident his side can get a positive result against the Sailors.
“Our target is to win the group and advance to the next stage. Everyone is looking forward to the game against the Sailors; the whole team is ready, and we’re determined to take all three points,” said Deeromram, a former Swedish Under-19 international.
Sailors charting the right course
Port will face a Sailors side who are determined to maintain their positive momentum in ACL Two after a solid start, having earned four points from two matches.
However, the Sailors’ recent away game against Persib left them with mixed emotions; while they showed resilience by coming back from a goal down at half-time to equalise, there was also a lingering sense of what might have been, especially after they played the majority of the second half with a numerical advantage.
The Sailors will need to adjust their lineup for this match, with Dutch midfielder Bart Ramselaar suspended after his dismissal against Persib. Despite the setback, Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković remains confident in the squad’s depth to take on one of Thailand’s top teams.
“Port have a lot of quality — not only their foreign players but their local players as well,” Ranko remarked. “They’re leading the group for good reason, and have shown strong performances both in the ACL Two and in their domestic league.”
He added, “We’re excited to play against such quality opposition and prove ourselves on this stage. The team is well-prepared. With some minor issues from injuries and suspensions, other players will have to step up, and I’m confident they will.”
A win would propel the Sailors to the top of Group F at the halfway point of the Group Stage — an enticing incentive that will drive them to push their limits in pursuit of a historic first-ever qualification for the tournament’s last 16.
And Sailors defender Lionel Tan claims the team are fully focused on that objective.
“At this stage, every point is crucial,” said Lionel, who has played the full 90 minutes in each of the Sailors’ two ACL Two Group F fixtures till date.
“Port are a strong side, but each game is different, and we’re committed to preparing in our own way and focusing on what we can control. We play with confidence and stay aligned with the coach’s instructions. Taking it one game at a time is key for us.”
The Sailors will also have the backing of a dedicated group of travelling fans on Wednesday, and Lionel expressed his gratitude for their unwavering support.
“For every away game so far, we’ve always heard our fans cheering us on,” Lionel said. “We’re truly grateful to them for making the effort to be there for us, even though they have to travel for the game.
“We’ll going to do our best to repay their love for us tomorrow night.”
The Lion City Sailors continued their unbeaten run in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two as they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium on Thursday (24 October) night.
Tyronne del Pino opened the scoring for Persib in the 43rd minute, but just four minutes into the second half, Bailey Wright equalised for the Sailors with a brilliant header.
Moments later, Persib’s night took a turn for the worse as they were reduced to 10 men when Dimas Drajad was sent off for headbutting Bailey.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Persib were able to hold on for their first point of the ACL Two campaign. And Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković admitted it was a missed opportunity for his side to secure another win in the competition.
“We can be a little disappointed because the opponent played with a man less for a long time, and we couldn’t break down their defence,” Ranko said in the post-match press conference. “We had most of the possession, but I feel we could have done a little more.”
The Sailors – who defeated Zhejiang Professional 2-0 in their opening ACL Two match last month – entered the game on the back of a successful run in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), where they extended their lead at the top of the table to six points.
Persib, on the other hand, were still searching for their first point in ACL Two after losses to Port FC and Zhejiang. However, they are unbeaten in the Indonesian Liga 1 this season, and were buoyed by a 2-0 victory over league leaders Persebaya Surabaya over the weekend.
Despite the raucous home support, it was the visiting Sailors who started brightly, with Maxime Lestienne forcing Kevin Ray Mendoza into a save from a tight angle just a minute into the match.
Neither side managed to create any clear-cut chances in the opening quarter, with Persib’s first notable effort coming in the 27th minute with captain Marc Klok attempting to catch Izwan Mahbud off guard with a corner. The Sailors’ goalkeeper, however, remained alert and tipped the ball over the bar.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 43rd minute when Indonesian international Drajad escaped his marker and played a perfectly weighted through ball to Del Pino, who coolly chipped the ball over the onrushing Izwan.
Feeling that his side had largely controlled the first half, Ranko was understandably frustrated to go into the break a goal down.
“I think we controlled the match quite well in the first half. We didn’t allow any shots on goal and created a few promising breaks. I wouldn’t call them clear chances, but there were some opportunities. Then we conceded at the worst possible moment, which can’t happen — especially with the experienced team we have.”
But the Sailors tactician did not have to wait long for his charges to respond in the second half.
Following a short corner routine, Maxime delivered a superb cross, and Bailey ghosted in at the back post with a header in the 49th minute to level the scores and silence the 2,111 Bobotoh fans in attendance.
It was the Australian centre-back’s seventh goal for the Sailors since his arrival from England in July last year, and he was pleased with his contribution.
“First of all, a lot of respect for the opposition — they made it tough for us. As a group, as a team, as a club, we’re getting stronger with each passing day, and I think today is another example of that,” said Bailey, who has represented Australia in the 2014 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
“We’re a good side, we’re a tough team to beat, and we showed that today. We’ll just keep growing, and we’ll see where that takes us.”
Bailey was in the thick of the action again just two minutes later, when Persib’s Drajad lost his cool and headbutt the Sailors defender, leaving Iranian referee Bijan Heidari no choice but to show him a straight red card.
In the 63rd minute, the Sailors almost broke through the Persib defence with Rui Pires’ pass finding Song Ui-young, but the Incheon native misdirected his shot from a promising position.
Just a minute later, Persib had a chance of their own as Ciro Alves was denied at the near post by Izwan, who bravely stood his ground and took a knock to the face in the process.
Ranko then made several changes, introducing Shawal Anuar, Sergio Carmona Pérez, and Abdul Rasaq Akeem, but the game eventually fizzled out into a draw.
There was, however, one last moment of drama in the final minute, with Bart Ramselaar being sent off, as both teams ended the game with 10 men.
In the other Group F match, Port overcame Zhejiang 1-0, thanks to a second-half goal from Felipe Amorim.
The Thai side now tops the group with six points, while the Sailors sit second with four points. The two sides will face off next Wednesday (October 30) in their rescheduled ACL Two clash in Pathum Thani.
As the Sailors prepare for their trip to Thailand, Bailey has urged his teammates to focus on the positives ahead of what promises to be another crucial away match in the continental competition.
“Away fixtures in this tournament are always challenging,” he said. “We aimed for a win and felt we could have taken all three points, but a draw is the next best outcome.
“It’s a draw on the road, along with a solid performance, and those are the positives we’ll carry forward.”
