Against all odds and in a dramatic turn of events, the Lion City Sailors stunned the Asian footballing fraternity this past week by overcoming tournament favourites Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals.

The Sailors had been awarded a 3-0 win in the first leg after the AFC ruled that Sanfrecce had fielded an ineligible player. They then secured their place in the last four with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the three-time J1 League champions on a historic Wednesday (12 March) night at Jalan Besar Stadium.

While much of the spotlight may be on Shawal Anuar’s acrobatic assist or Lennart Thy’s inch-perfect finish, credit must also go to the Sailors’ resolute backline for standing firm against Sanfrecce’s relentless attack.

Experienced heads like Toni Datković and Bailey Wright played a crucial role, but local stalwarts Lionel Tan and Christopher van Huizen also stepped up admirably, proving they belonged on this stage.

Lionel, in particular, was one of the standout performers of the night. The 27-year-old centre-back put his body on the line with countless blocks and tackles, delivering a warrior-like performance before making way for Ali Alrina in the 84th minute.

“It was a huge game, and we all knew what was at stake,” Lionel recounted. “To reach the semi-finals, we had to be at our absolute best — or even better. There were some scary moments, but we defended as a unit and ultimately got through together.”

Having witnessed Sanfrecce’s devastating attacking prowess from the bench before coming on for the final 7 minutes in the first leg, Lionel ensured he was both tactically and mentally prepared for the challenge in the second leg.

“Sanfrecce is an amazing team, and they were on a different level,” Lionel admitted. “Even with 10 men, their quality was still superb. However, we studied their strengths and knew they would look to exploit the flanks, so we were well prepared for that.”

Shifting his focus back to the domestic front as the Sailors return to Singapore Cup action against Balestier Khalsa on Sunday (16 March), Lionel is determined to uphold the high standards the team has set — whether against domestic or continental opposition.

The Sailors currently sit second in the five-team table, having kicked off their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Tanjong Pagar United back in February.

“As a team, we know we’re fighting on three fronts, and retaining the Singapore Cup is a key part of that,” he said. “That’s why we need to refocus and be ready for this next challenge. No matter the competition, we want to win every game — for the team and for the fans.

“Coach [Aleksandar Ranković] always reminds us that we need to be at our best to get results, and we cannot afford to drop that level. We’ve now raised the bar and set the standard for how we should be performing, so we must keep pushing each other in training.”

The Sailors will head into this clash brimming with confidence, having won their last seven encounters against Balestier in all competitions — a streak that dates back to October 2022.

However, Lionel remains wary of the threat posed by the Tigers, particularly in attack, where they can rely on the prolific Kodai Tanaka, who has racked up 23 goals and 13 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

The former Sailor was on target when both sides met in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) three weeks ago (23 February), scoring the consolation in a 5-1 defeat for the Tigers.

“Balestier has developed a distinct style of play under Coach Peter de Roo,” Lionel explained. “We know how they look for penetrative passes through the middle and how they push forward, but our focus is on our own strengths — how we set up and how we execute. Ultimately, we’re going for the three points.”

This Singapore Cup clash marks Lionel’s eighth appearance for the Sailors since the start of February, capping off a demanding stretch of fixtures for both him and the team. With the centre-back also earning a call-up to the Singapore Men’s National Team for the upcoming March FIFA international window, he understands the importance of carefully managing his workload.

“With so many games coming up, recovery is crucial for me, especially since I’ve had some niggling injuries that kept me out — like the match against Hougang, which I missed due to a hamstring issue,” Lionel explained.

“Nevertheless, we want to head into this mini break on a high and carry this positive momentum into the rest of the season.”