Lion City Sailors beat Tai Po 1-0 at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday 15 October 2026 to take their first win of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 group stage. Lion City Sailors moved onto four points in Group F after their opening draw with BG Pathum United.
How the goal arrived
The Sailors controlled possession early, and Ilhan Fandi headed Matthias Phaëton’s sixth-minute cross straight at goalkeeper Tse Ka Wing. Clear chances were scarce after that against Tai Po’s deep block. Song Uiyoung rattled the crossbar from range in the 31st minute, and the sides went in goalless. Two minutes after the restart, Giovanni Haag’s inswinging corner was flicked on by Toni Datković and Matthias Phaëton steered it past Tse for his first continental goal for the club and his third of the season. The Guadeloupe international was named man of the match. Bart Ramselaar nearly doubled the lead in the 65th minute but stabbed over from Ilhan’s knockdown.
Digging in to close it out
Tai Po pushed through Brazilian substitutes Wallisson Bahia and Paulinho Simionato. Bahia curled just wide in the 71st minute, Diogo Costa cleared off the line, and Simionato found the side netting. Late Sailors chances for Diogo Costa and Antonio Mance flew over, but Mark Jackson’s side held on for the three points.
Jackson called it an important platform while the squad is still settling into his methods. “In our first ACL Two game, we dropped two points, but we took the positives from that performance and knew we would continue to grow as a team,” said Datković.
What is next
The Sailors return to Singapore Premier League duty on Sunday 18 October against FC Jurong at Jurong East Stadium at 7.30pm. A win would lift them above Jurong, who sit one place ahead after three matches.
