Lion City Sailors were handed a hammering by Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) quarter-finals on 5 March, going down 6-1.
While acknowledging the gulf between the two sides in his post-match press conference, Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković felt that the result was harsh.
“We just played against one of the best sides in Asia, but the result was a little harsh, as almost every shot they took went in,” he said.
“We did an okay job controlling the game in the first half, but were really unlucky to concede both in the closing minute of the first half and the first minute of the second half.”
Playing at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima Stadium, the Sailors found themselves on the back foot early as the J1 League side dominated proceedings.
Sanfrecce opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Satoshi Tanaka’s long-range strike deflected off a defender to wrong-foot Izwan Mahbud in goal.
Moments later, the hosts nearly doubled their lead after Bailey Wright got caught napping, but Izwan pulled off a brilliant save.
Captain Hariss Harun threw himself in front of the rebound, keeping the Sailors afloat.
There was hope when Shawal Anuar finished off a lightning-fast counter-attack to make it 1-1 to the delight of the traveling fans.
But Ryo Germain restored Sanfrecce’s lead before half-time, and the floodgates well and truly opened in the second half.
Being the remaining Southeast Asia’s only representatives in the tournament, the Sailors have a mountain to climb ahead of the second leg at Jalan Besar Stadium on 12 March.
It will take grit, belief, and maybe a bit of Jalan Besar magic for the Sailors to pull off the unthinkable in front of their home fans.
MAIN PHOTO: LION CITY SAILORS