The Lion City Sailors’ Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two journey continues on Thursday (13 February) night as they face Thai League 1 powerhouse Muangthong United in the first leg of the Round of 16 at Thunder Dome Stadium.
A resurgent Muangthong side
The four-time Thai League champions and 2010 AFC Cup semi-finalists have endured challenging times in recent years, but are steadily reclaiming their status as one of Thailand’s top clubs.
Returning to the ACL group stage for the first time since 2017, the Twin Qilins were on the brink of elimination after picking up just two points from their first three matches. However, they staged a remarkable turnaround, winning their next three games to finish second behind South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Group H and securing their place in the knockout stage.
Domestically, Muangthong have been one of the league’s most in-form teams, and have won five of their last six matches. Their latest triumph was a dramatic 2-1 home victory over Chiangrai United on 8 February which was sealed by injury-time goals from Teeraphol Yoryoei and Aly Cissokho.
That victory propelled Muangthong United from mid-table to third place, leapfrogging Port FC — the Sailors’ ACL Two group-stage opponents — after 20 matches.
Two additional factors have worked in Muangthong’s favor ahead of this clash. On 21 January, the club won its appeal with the AFC to allow them to return to the Thunder Dome for the ACL Two knockout stages, after being forced to play their group-stage matches at Rajamangala National Stadium.
The Thunder Dome, Muangthong’s rightful home since 2007, is a more compact and intimidating venue where they have won their last five Thai League 1 home matches — including a 2-1 victory over second-placed Bangkok United in November.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Muangthong head coach Gino Lettieri underscored the significance of playing at the Thunder Dome, saying, “For us, it’s a comfort to play at home. I hope we have a full stadium tomorrow, and I hope the fans will come out to support us. We’ll try to give our best for them — playing at home gives us a special feeling and the motivation to give even more.”
Muanthong’s league fixture against Khon Kaen United, originally scheduled for 16 February — between the two legs against the Sailors — has also been postponed to April, thus allowing them to fully focus on their continental campaign.
However, Lettieri warned against underestimating the Sailors.
“Tomorrow won’t be an easy game for us. People assume we can win every match, but they sometimes overlook what the Sailors have accomplished this season,” he remarked. “Let’s not forget — Port FC played twice against them and lost both times, conceding eight goals.”
Despite the challenge, Lettieri remained optimistic. He said, “I have a good feeling about tomorrow. The team is well-prepared, and I hope we’ll have an exciting match.”
Notable names and key threatsÂ
Muangthong’s Singapore international Jacob Mahler will miss out on a reunion with familiar faces, but the Thai side still boasts several key players who are capable of causing problems for the Sailors.
Their attacking quartet features former Werder Bremen and ADO Den Haag forward Melvyn Lorenzen, alongside Swedish attacker Emil Roback, who was still on the books of Italian Serie A giants AC Milan as recently as 2024. Adding to their firepower is 20-year-old Kakana Khamyok, the ACL Two’s joint-top assist provider with five — level with the Sailors’ Maxime Lestienne — as well as Poramet Arjvirai, who scored a stunning goal in Thailand’s 3-1 win over Singapore in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers last June.
At the other end, 37-year-old Aly Cissokho — who made 70 English Premier League appearances for Liverpool and Aston Villa between 2013 and 2017 — marshals the backline alongside new South Korean recruit Hong Jeong-un, a former Daegu FC defender who was part of the side that lost 3-0 to the Sailors in the ACL back in April 2022.Â
Muangthong can also count on experienced right-back and vice-captain Tristan Do, who has amassed more than 50 international caps for Thailand, to provide defensive stability and attacking width down the flank.
But Poramet is well aware that the Sailors possess quality players within their squad too.
“We know tomorrow will be a tough challenge. They have quality players throughout the squad, including several from the Singapore national team,” said Poramet. “But we’re looking forward to a great match. The team is ready to give everything for the win.”
Sailors eyeing more historyÂ
Nonetheless, having shown their mettle against Thai opposition this season — completing a double over Port FC in the ACL Two group stages and holding Buriram United to a goalless draw in the Shopee Cup last month — the Sailors will back themselves for another strong performance.
“It’s a great opportunity to play this game. We’ve worked hard for this, and as group winners, playing the away leg first can offer a slight advantage,” said Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković. “That said, we’re very happy to be here, competing against strong opponents. We had a good result away against Port FC, and our away form hasn’t been bad. Even in the games we lost, we weren’t outplayed — we dominated most of them.
“Of course, playing in front of your home crowd is always an advantage (for Muangthong), but we know we can compete against them.”
Coming off a dominant performance against Tanjong Pagar, which secured their fifth straight league win — their longest streak this season — the Sailors will enter this clash with strong momentum.
However, they will be without Hami Syahin, who is suspended due to an accumulation of three yellow cards from the group stages.
Nonetheless, Sailors captain Hariss Harun is confident his side has what it takes to secure a victory in Thailand and has urged his teammates to believe in themselves.
“The knockout stage is always an exciting phase, and the whole team is motivated to get going,” said Hariss. “We’ve had a great campaign so far, and now it’s about stepping up to the challenge. We know what’s at stake — it’s two games to reach the next round, and we have to back ourselves to get the job done.
“Muangthong are a quality side, but we must trust in our abilities. The confidence that got us this far will drive us forward, and we’re ready to give everything.
“This is uncharted territory for us, but we need to enjoy the moment and focus on our responsibilities. February is a big month with many important games, but right now, our full focus is on this match.”
Hariss also emphasised the importance of representing Singapore football in the best possible manner on the continental stage.
“It’s very important — we are setting the benchmark for Singapore football. In many ways, the club is doing things that are unprecedented, pushing boundaries that haven’t been seen here for a long time,” said the 34-year-old.
“Football is a results-driven industry, and the best way to lead the way is by delivering results. That’s what we’re striving for this season. It’s been a long campaign, and while our Shopee Cup exit wasn’t the way we wanted to end that competition, we’re still competing on three fronts.
“This is the biggest of them all — the Asian stage — where we have the chance to showcase the best of Singapore football. We need to give our all and represent the country in the best way possible.”
