The Lion City Sailors have done what their predecessors – Home United – achieved in 2004 by reaching the semi-finals of a continental competition and will now come up against Sydney United in the semi-finals.
On 12 March, the Sailors found their way through to the Asian Champions League Two semi-finals after a resilient 1-1 draw against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Jalan Besar Stadium on sealing their spot with a 4-1 aggregate..
The result adds another chapter to Singapore football’s growing ambitions.
“We don’t just represent the club, we represent the country,” said Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic to the Straits Times.
“I don’t want to be arrogant, but I think with this (result), we put Singapore football on the (map).”
Their journey to the semi-finals took an unexpected turn even before the ball was kicked.
The Sailors were originally trailing 6-1 after the first leg in Japan.
But a costly error from Sanfrecce, fielding an ineligible player, saw the result overturned by the Asian Football Confederation.
The Sailors were instead handed a 3-0 win, giving them a massive advantage heading into the return leg.
That lifeline turned Jalan Besar into a cauldron of hope, with 4,193 fans packing the stands.
Yet, early nerves set in when star winger Maxime Lestienne was forced off injured in the 15th minute but soon after, Lennart Thy combined with Shawal Anuar in a brilliant one-two before smashing home the opening goal.
Sanfrecce struck back in the 34th minute with a well-placed Yotaro Nakajima free kick, but any comeback hopes were dashed when Ryo Germain was sent off in the 51st minute for lashing out at Bailey Wright.
The Sailors will face Sydney FC in the semi-finals, with the first leg on 9 April at home and the return leg on 16 April.
A place in the final on 17 May is now within reach.
PHOTOS: LION CITY SAILORS