The Lion City Sailors continued their remarkable voyage through the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Two (ACL2) on March 12, 2025, as they reached the semi-finals for the first time by securing a 1-1 draw against Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Jalan Besar Stadium, winning the tie 4-1 on aggregate.
This historic achievement is significant as the Sailors are the only Southeast Asian club still standing in the ACL2 and are now geared up to take on either Sydney FC or South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who lead their quarter-final tie 2-0 going to the second leg.
Head coach Aleksandar Rankovic expressed pride after witnessing his team bravely navigate through the match, noting, "I'm very proud of my boys, the way they played, playing against this kind of opponent. It's not only our club, we represent the country." His sentiments reflect the importance of this success for Singaporean football.
The Sailors' path to the semis was made even more remarkable after their first leg result, which initially ended 6-1 to Sanfrecce. The Asian football governing body ruled it as 3-0 due to Sanfrecce fielding suspended French forward Valere Germain, demonstrating the Sailors' resilience to capitalize on this opportunity.
During the match, the focus was on the early moments, where the Sailors suffered the setback of losing their star player, Maxime Lestienne, to injury, as he had to be stretchered off just 14 minutes in. Yet, the home side did not allow this to derail their determination. They created the first clear-cut chance when Lennart Thy, the German forward, converted from the edge of the box. Thanks to Shawal Anuar, who provided the assist with his acrobatic passing, Thy’s shot found the bottom corner to put the Sailors up 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Despite the willingness of Sanfrecce to respond, it was not until the 35th minute when Yotaro Nakajima executed a beautiful free-kick, curling it past goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, who was left stranded. The Sailors appeared to hold their ground, showcasing solid defense and creating their own opportunities.
Things took another turn for Sanfrecce when the match intensified, leading to frustration, especially after the red card shown to Ryo Germain following what was deemed to be elbowing against Sailors defender Bailey Wright. This event shifted the momentum back to the Sailors. The game continued with exciting plays and near-misses but also showcased stellar goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, who made several key saves.
Even with Sanfrecce having significantly more attempts, the Sailors held firm, much to the delight of the 4,193-strong crowd, who created a fantastic atmosphere. This support bolstered the team’s confidence and resolve as they successfully navigated the second half.
Sanfrecce head coach Michael Skibbe lamented the outcome of the first leg and acknowledged the difficulties his team faced during the match. He pointed out, "(They had) some very fast attackers, very good on the counter-attack, and because of this, they scored the goal. It is very difficult (after going down to 10 men) because the opponent had very strong defenders and they were standing very deep inside their own half."
The Lion City Sailors had previously not reached the knockout stages of any AFC club competition since Home United did it back during the 2018 edition of the AFC Cup. Following this achievement, they had topped their group earlier this season, demonstrating their prowess against teams from various countries and now solidifying their place among the elite clubs of Asian football.
Rankovic remained cautious about the prospects of going all the way, stating, "We have to learn to crawl before we learn to walk, and then we learn to run. Don't jump so far ahead, we go step by step." It’s this grounded mindset, along with their solid performances on the pitch, which has become the hallmark of their success.
With the semi-finals ahead, the Sailors are ready to prove their worth and embody the hope for Singapore’s growing football narrative, giving fans and players alike plenty to rally behind this season. Their relentless spirit and determination were not only evident on the pitch but reflected the aspiration of the crowd who rallied together, as one united force supporting their team through thick and thin.