Lion City Sailors defeat Etihad FC 2-0 in historic AFC Women’s Champions League prelim-round win

SINGAPORE – It was just five months ago that Ami Takeuchi had gotten to know about the Lion City Sailors, when their men’s team played against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two quarter-finals.

Back then, the Sailors had eliminated the Japanese club from the competition en route to a historic run which saw them become the first team from Singapore to qualify for the final of a major Asian club competition.

Since then, the 19-year-old had been keeping up to date with the Sailors on social media, before joining the club from Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies as one of five Japanese imports ahead of their second AFC Women’s Champions League campaign.

On Aug 25, she played a significant role in another history-making moment for the Sailors, as she scored a brace in their 2-0 preliminary-round victory over Jordan’s Etihad FC to secure the club’s first win at the continental event.

On finding the net, Takeuchi said: “I was thinking about scoring a goal because we had to win in order to move on to the next stage.”

The attacking midfielder, part of the Urawa Reds squad who won Japan’s top-tier Women’s Empowerment (WE) League in the 2023-24 season, added: “I am determined to help this team qualify...

“I’m fortunate enough to be able to come to Singapore and I want to take this opportunity to let people know about Singaporean football.”

It took Takeuchi just 11 minutes to break the deadlock at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka.

Brought down by Etihad’s Ghanaian centre-back Zakaria Takia on the edge of the penalty box, Takeuchi sent the resulting free kick swerving into the net to give the Sailors the lead.

The Japanese players combined for the second goal in the 40th minute, as central midfielder Riari Kitaoka provided a pinpoint cross from the left flank to Takeuchi, who was perfectly positioned to make it 2-0.

Etihad made substitutions in the second half to try and switch things up but found it difficult to break through the Sailors’ defensive line, with goalkeeper Nur Izairida Shakira making several crucial saves.

There was an outpouring of emotions from the Singapore side when the match ended, as they embraced one another in celebration, with some players even in tears.

Hailing an “unbelievable” performance by his team, Sailors coach Daniel Ong said: “It’s a proud moment for the club as we really want to show people out there that we are serious about women’s football.

“That women’s football is worth taking a look at and also to show Singapore that there is hope in Singapore women’s football.”

Both sides had met at the same stage last season – when the Sailors made their debut in the revamped continental tournament.

Etihad won 5-0 as they finished second in the group behind India’s Odisha FC, while the Singapore side were bottom after losing both their games.

This season, both teams returned with strengthened squads as they aimed to advance from the preliminary round to the group stage, with six spots on offer for the five group winners and best-placed runners-up. Six teams have qualified automatically.

The Sailors

added five Japanese players to their roster

– Takeuchi, Kitaoka, forward Eri Kitagawa, midfielder Miyu Inayama and defender Sakurako Ohashi. Except for Ohashi and Kitaoka, the rest had played in Japan’s top-tier WE League.

Etihad, the Jordanian champions, came into the tournament on the back of a perfect domestic season during which they clinched a second consecutive league title and their first domestic cup.

They bolstered their squad with Mozambican forward Cidalia Daniel Cuta, Nepali midfielder Preeti Rai and Ghanaian trio Takia, Anima Naomi and Eugenia Tetteh, who finished as the AFC Women’s Champions League’s third-highest scorer last season.

Sailors captain Umairah Hamdan highlighted the contributions of the Japanese imports, saying they have raised the overall quality of the team’s play, with their experience making a strong impact on the pitch. She said: “It’s a historic moment, not only for the club but also for Singapore.

“We’re proud to be part of something that pushes the progress of women’s football forward, and we hope it inspires the next generation to dream bigger.”

With Malaysian side Kelana United and Kyrgyzstan’s Sdyushor SI-Asiagoal playing out a goalless draw in the other Group C match, the Sailors are top of the group with three points.

They will next face Kelana on Aug 28, followed by Sdyushor SI-Asiagoal on Aug 31.

Looking ahead, Umairah said: “We’re confident, but we stay humble. It’s important for us to keep playing our style of football as a team and focus on improving with each game.

“There’s still work to be done – we’ll continue fine-tuning our performance so we’re ready to take on the challenges ahead.”