It’s time to celebrate, because the Lion City Sailors have written themselves into the history books! They are the first team from Singapore to make it to the AFC Champions League Two final. Their exceptional journey came to a head with a sudden-death victory that was an exclamation point on their ability and heart while battling stiff competition. Help us congratulate the Sailors on this incredible accomplishment! With the distinction of being the last club standing from the ASEAN region, they have certainly cast a large shadow in Singaporean football.
The Lion City Sailors came out gun blazing to begin their campaign. They were hoping to take advantage of the home field before heading to Australia for the semifinals. Things could hardly have started better for them, winning their opener against Zhejiang 2-0 in a dream start to the tournament. Despite this, the challenges continued as they suffered the ignominy of a 6-1 first leg thrashing at the hands of Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Yet, the side showed great determination in ensuring their opponents did not get the upper hand and equalling an unprecedented achievement in Asian football.
In the semifinals, the Sailors took on Sydney FC, one of the most seasoned Australian campaigners. The weight of expectation must have weighed heavy, but the Sailors delivered a footballing masterclass to bowl their opponents over. They started the match with an explosive pace, breaking the deadlock within 42 seconds. By halftime, they’d done enough to race into a convincing 2-0 lead. The Sailors weren’t done flexing, as they surged out to a three-goal lead just 27 minutes in.
The Lion City Sailors held firm despite constant and aggressive attacks from Sydney FC. They were stout defensively, only allowing a goal in the 85th minute. Their determination would take them all the way to a convincing 5-2 victory. Song Ui-Young starred with a hat-trick to complement goals from Shawal Anuar and Lennart Thy. Their win took them to the final. It further emphasized their rising image as a competitive juggernaut in Asian football.
The Sailors’ road to this final has been anything but predictable. They have stormed past traditional powerhouses from coast-to-coast, proving time and again their ability to step up when it counts. While the prowess of survival against such powerhouse teams shows how far they’ve come and how hungry they are to compete on a continental scale.
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