The Lion City Sailors have rattled Asian football to their core this season. They are shattering records left and right, announcing to the world that they are a serious power-house threat in this game. In only five short years, the team has already left a phenomenal legacy. During the ACL Two group stage, they topped their group comfortably! And now, they’ve reached the finals! In only 90 short minutes, they might be headed to the finals of this grandiose, illustrious, storied tournament.
The Sailors will take on Sydney FC for the second leg of their semifinal, with the Sailors leading 2-0 on aggregate. Their remarkable run in the tournament has equaled the farthest any Singaporean club has ever gone in Asian football’s second-tier competition. This historic achievement is not only a great victory for the club but Singaporean football as a collective in general.
Bailey Wright — The Sailors’ Australian defensive lynchpin has been key to their success this season. When Wright came back to Singapore, he was met with what he described as ‘sliding doors’ questions. These questions centered on his choice to depart Australia. Wright’s connection to Australian football runs deep and on the field he bleeds green and gold for his teams back home. Ever since, he’s gone all in on the Sailors’ cause.
“Occasions like this semifinal of the ACL Two is an opportunity for us to really put our mark on Asian football and show what Singapore is about.” – Bailey Wright
Wright’s focus remains on advancing the Sailors’ objectives, even if it means disappointing Australian fans. He expressed his love for both the team and the city, stating, “You just have to enjoy and make the most of it because, before you know it, your career is over and you look back at nights and moments like these and, if you capitalised on it, it’ll live with you forever.”
For his part, the Sailors’ head coach, Aleksandar Ranković, is just as excited about the upcoming match as Wright. The messaging he was quick to illustrate that his squad isn’t just going to sit back and bunker down on their advantage. Instead, they look to establish their will on the field.
“Of course we’re not just going to sit back,” – Aleksandar Ranković
The mood of confidence among the Sailors’ camp can be felt as they get ready to protect their one-goal advantage against Sydney FC. With outstanding team performances across the tournament, they have developed a true spirit and tactical maturity that has been led by Ranković’s impressive leadership. The coach has expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress and is optimistic about their chances of advancing to the final.
The responsiveness from fans has completely blown me away. As the club nears this transformative moment in their history, the energy truly is electric. The Sailors clearly don’t want to take any steam off their recent success. Their goal is to build a legacy within Singaporean football, while making waves on the regional Asian stage.
As they get ready for this deciding game, the Lion City Sailors are the very picture of ambition and confidence. Their run through the ACL Two has been a testament to that talent. More importantly, it has underscored Singapore’s growing stake in Asian football.
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