The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team rounded off the month of May with another big victory, extending their winning streak to seven games as they thrashed BG Tampines Rovers 9-0 on Saturday (18 May) evening at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
The result means the Sailors will head into the month-long international break with a perfect record, while maintaining their three-point lead at the top of the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) table.
Equally impressive is that, with goals from Ho Hui Xin and Yuvika Suresh on Saturday, the Sailors now boast 14 different goalscorers this season, showcasing their diverse attacking threats.
Indeed, it was 15-year-old Yuvika who opened the scoring for the Sailors against Tampines in the sixth minute, tapping home Josephine Ang’s lay-off from close range to give her side the lead.
Reflecting on her goal, Yuvika, one of seven teenagers promoted from the club’s academy this season, said, “I didn’t expect the ball to come to me because I thought Josephine was going to take the shot. But I usually still make the run in case I need to get to the second ball. So when Josephine passed the ball to me, I knew I had to get a good connection on it.”
Josephine then turned from provider to goalscorer, scoring twice in quick succession. While her first strike was a straightforward finish from a Nur Syazwani Ruzi assist, her second goal, a long-range free-kick, was particularly eye-catching.
The match was as good as over as a contest by half-time, but the Sailors emerged from the break wanting more.
Within four minutes of the restart, Hui Xin scored her first goal of the season as she curled the ball into the bottom right corner after being teed up by Yuvika.
It was clear from Hui Xin’s exuberant celebrations that the goal meant a lot to her. She said, “Almost everyone has scored this season! We’ve been working a lot on shooting in training so it’s very satisfying to get a goal. I definitely hope to get on the scoresheet more this season.”
With the wind firmly in their sails, Daniel Ong’s side went onto rack up the goals with Cara Chang, current WPL top scorer Raeka Ee, Dorcas Chu and Madison Telmer all contributing to the scoreline to give it a shinier gloss.
When asked about the reasons behind the Sailors’ recent impressive form, Hui Xin attributed it to the team’s effective communication on the pitch and their disciplined positioning.
“We reminded each other that instructions should be communicated on the pitch to keep the game flowing. Whether you’re a senior or junior player, it’s important to speak up and provide guidance to your teammates,” she elaborated.
“It ensures that we all know what’s going on at all times, and move cohesively as a unit. As midfielders, we have a wide view of the pitch, so we can facilitate team movements effectively.
“This cohesion, supported by effective communication, within the midfield is crucial for the team. We play a pivotal role in coordinating attacks by moving forward together and in defensive situations by dropping back. Essentially, we act as the engine that drives the team forward.”
Despite the big win, Hui Xin is confident that the Sailors can still improve, and believes that the upcoming break will be the perfect opportunity for the team to refine their tactics even further.
She said, “It’s inevitable that there’ll be gaps in our formation when we attack due to our high-pressing style of play. We need to work on keeping possession better to prevent counter attacks.”
The Sailors will next take on Geylang International on Sunday, 23 June at ITE College East.
