Geylang International women’s team end Lion City Sailors’ unbeaten run of over two years

Geylang International ended the Lion City Sailors’ unbeaten run in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League on June 23.PHOTO: GEYLANG INTERNATIONAL/FACEBOOK

Written by Deepanraj Ganesan / The Straits Times / 24 Jun 2024

The Lion City Sailors suffered their first defeat in more than two years when they lost 2-1 to Geylang International in a Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) match at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on June 23.

The two-time defending champions’ 37-match unbeaten run had stretched from 2022, when the WPL was only a seven-team league.

They won 10 matches and drawn the other two that season before racking up 17 victories and one draw in the 2023 WPL, which involved 10 teams.

Sailors coach Daniel Ong said the defeat was a “wake-up call” for his team who are among 22 sides who will take part in the inaugural Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League which kicks off on Aug 25.

Ong said: “I feel this is a good wake-up call, and it has come at the right time as we prepare for the AFC Women’s Champions League. I believe the players and the coaching staff will work harder together as a team and move on from this defeat.

“Nobody wants to lose, and all the players gave their very best until the final minute. No one is to blame, and we’ll all take it together as a team. We take each game one at a time. Having said that, all credit to coach Ratna (Suffian) and his Geylang players. They were very organised and defended well as a team.”

After a goalless first half, Geylang debutante Victoria Sarka – who recently transferred from BG Tampines Rovers – scored twice in quick succession in the 70th and 73rd minute to hand her new side a 2-0 lead. Substitute Madison Telmer pulled one back for the Sailors in the 87th minute, but it was too little too late for the defending champions.

The Sailors are still top of the 2024 table on goal difference after eight matches, but are now level on 21 points with second-placed Albirex Niigata, who thrashed BG Tampines 6-0 in an earlier match at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

Geylang have risen to third in the nine-team table, five points behind the joint-leaders.

The Sailors will look to bounce back when they face Tiong Bahru on June 29 at Choa Chu Kang. Geylang will look to make it two shock wins in a row when they take on Albirex a day later at the same venue.