Sydney FC’s pursuit of a place in the final of the inaugural AFC Asian Champions League Two campaign continues on Wednesday night with the first leg of a semi-final clash against Singaporean side Lion City Sailors.
Having defeated Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the quarter-finals, Ufuk Talay’s side progressed to the final four, securing a guaranteed prize of USD 780,000 (approximately AUD 1.3 million).
But defeating Lion City Sailors in the two-legged semi-finals will result in a significant increase in the Isuzu UTE A-League club’s potential prize money, and grant the Sky Blues a chance at glory in Asia, as well as an indirect spot in the 2025-26 ACL Elite campaign.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kick-off at Jalan Besar Stadium at 10pm AEST on Wednesday night.
The semi-final format
Sydney FC have touched down in Singapore ahead of the first leg of their semi-final bout with Lion City Sailors. Following the first leg at Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday, April 9, the two sides will reconvene in Sydney on Wednesday, April 16 for the second-leg showdown at Allianz Stadium.
On the other side of the draw, UAE side Sharjah FC takes on Saudi Pro League side Al-Taawoun FC for a place in the final.
Match details
Lion City Sailors v Sydney FC – Semi-Final First Leg
Date: Wednesday, April 9
Venue: Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Kick-off: 10pm AEST
Broadcast: Live and Free on 10 Play
Sydney FC v Lion City Sailors – Semi-Final Second Leg
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Date: Wednesday, April 16
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 8pm AEST
Broadcast: Live and Free on 10 Play
Tickets: Click here to get your tickets to the second-leg
How to watch?
The remainder of the ACL Two campaign is available to watch live and free on 10 Play.
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Much more than prize money on the line
Sydney FC’s hopes of becoming ACL Two chances are boosted by the fact the winner of their semi-final clash with Lion City Sailors will host the final in mid-May.
Reaching the ACL Two final will guarantee Sydney a minimum of USD 1.78 million (approximately AUD 2.95 million), but the Sky Blues will be eager to go all the way and secure the additional USD 1.5 million on offer for the winner of the tournament to see their total prize money skyrocket to USD 3.28 million – approximately AUD 5.44 million.
To go with the significant financial windfall, there’s an indirect place in the 2025-26 ACL Elite campaign up for grabs for the winner of the ACL Elite.
The road so far
Sydney FC finished second in Group E to progress to the Round of 16, having won four of their six group stage games. The Sky Blues drew with Bangkok United in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash before returning to Sydney, where the Thailand club held a 2-1 second-leg lead up until the 88th minute, before an Adrian Segecic equaliser set up extra time.
Douglas Costa’s 100th-minute strike put Sydney up 3-2 on the night, and 5-4 in the tie – and that’s how the score remained until full-time to ensure their progression to the quarter-finals.
Then came a clash with Jeonbuk, and after a 2-0 win away from home in the first leg, Sydney were in the box seat to progress to the final four – but a first-half brace from Jeon Jin-woo threatened to end the Sky Blues’ campaign in Asia.
Ufuk Talay’s side responded in style after half-time, scoring three unanswered goals to romp to a 5-2 aggregate win and set up a semi-final clash with Lion City Sailors.
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The Sailors reached the final four in dramatic circumstances.
Taking on Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the quarter-finals, Lion City Sailors lost the first leg 6-1 – but in a controversial twist, it was later confirmed Valère Germain – the former Macarthur Bulls striker who joined Sanfrecce in February – played and scored in the 6-1 win despite being ineligible for AFC competition due to a suspension incurred whilst at the Bulls, and the result was overturned to a 3-0 win in the Sailors’ favour.
The second leg ended 1-1, meaning the Sailors progressed to the semi-finals at Sanfrecce’s expense, to set up a final-four showdown with Sydney FC.
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Lion City Sailors are the current leaders of the Singaporean Premier League.
Led by Croatian head coach Aleksandar Ranković, the Sailors’ squad features Subway Socceroos defender Bailey Wright; the 32-year-old was part of the Socceroos 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup campaign and will be key to the Sailors’ hopes of keeping out a star-studded Sydney FC attack across two legs in the ACL Two semi-finals.
In a potential boost to the Sailors’ hopes of eliminating the Sky Blues, former Club Brugge, Standard Liege, Malaga and PSV Eindhoven winger Maxime Lestienne is closing in on a return from an elbow injury suffered in the Sailors’ 1-1 draw with Sanfrecce in the second leg of the ACL Two quarter-finals.
Lestienne is the reigning Singapore Premier League Player of the Year and has recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in the domestic league to date, but has missed his side’s last four games.
ESPN reports Lestienne returned to training last week, and was pictured with protective gear on his left elbow in a recent training video released by the club.
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