Lion City Sailors Advance to ACL2 Semis After 4-1 Aggregate Win Over Sanfrecce Hiroshima

The Singaporean team capitalized on a first-leg forfeit and held their ground in a dramatic second-leg draw at Jalan Besar Stadium.

Lion City Sailors secured a spot in the AFC Champions League Two semi-finals with a 1-1 draw, achieving a 4-1 aggregate victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
The Sailors were awarded a 3-0 win for the first leg after Sanfrecce fielded an ineligible player, overturning the Japanese side's initial 6-1 victory.
Lennart Thy scored the opening goal in the 20th minute, while Sanfrecce equalized with a free kick by Yotaro Nakajima in the 35th minute.
Sanfrecce's Ryo Germain was sent off early in the second half for violent conduct, reducing the Japanese side to 10 men and hampering their comeback efforts.
The Sailors will face either Sydney FC or Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the semi-finals, marking the best continental performance by a Singaporean club since 2018.