History has been written for Singapore women’s football.
On 28 August in Melaka, the Lion City Sailors Women beat Malaysian champions Kelana United 3-1 to become the first Singapore side ever to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League group stage.
Goals came from Japanese midfielders Ami Takeuchi and Miyu Inayama, and 15-year-old Singaporean sensation Nur Ain Salleh.
Coach Daniel Ong admitted he struggled to find the words to describe the achievement.
“We are a young team and there’s still plenty to work on, but the players and backroom staff have always given their all,” he said to the Straits Times.
This campaign has been a remarkable turnaround.
Just last year, the Sailors were knocked out at the preliminary stage, losing heavily to India’s Odisha FC and Jordan’s Etihad Club.
But this time, they returned stronger.
The Sailors opened their 2025 qualifying campaign with a shock 2-0 win over Etihad on 25 August, setting themselves up for a shot at history.
After Etihad defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Sdyushor earlier in the day, the equation was simple, beat Kelana, and Singapore would have a team in the group stage for the very first time.
The Sailors delivered.
Inayama slotted in the opener after 11 minutes, Ain pounced in the 63rd to make it 2-0, and Takeuchi added the third six minutes later.
Kelana pulled one back late, but by then the result and history was sealed.
It has not happened by chance.
The Sailors bolstered their squad this season with five Japanese players, whose experience has added quality and composure to the three-time Women’s Premier League champions.
The combination of foreign strength and young local talent like Ain has proven to be the winning formula.
The Sailors’ six points from two matches means they cannot be caught at the top of Group C, regardless of their final game against Sdyushor on 31 August.
From 9 to 23 November, the Sailors will take their place in Asia’s biggest women’s club competition alongside heavyweights like Melbourne City, Suwon FC and Tokyo Verdy Beleza.
PHOTOS: LION CITY SAILORS