2026, JANUARY 10 – Lion City Sailors FC completed a Singapore Cup hat-trick with a 2–0 extra-time win over BG Tampines Rovers FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
With little separating the sides over 90 minutes, the final was shaped by control and caution rather than risk. It was the Sailors’ depth and patience that ultimately told, as substitutes Hami Syahin and Anderson Lopes struck in extra time to settle the contest.
The holders started assertively, with Shawal Anuar forcing Tampines captain Syazwan Buhari into an early save before Song Ui-young crashed a left-footed effort off the crossbar following a corner.
Tampines responded with confidence and were inches away from a spectacular opener when Takeshi Yoshimoto attempted an audacious effort from inside his own half, his shot drifting narrowly wide with Ivan Šušak scrambling back.
The first half was cagey, with both teams cautious and probing rather than committing too many forward. Former Tampines midfielder Kyoga Nakamura, now in Sailors colours, delivered quality in midfield and drew a lively reception from the stands.
After the break, the game remained cagey, with both sides cautious and few clear chances. Tampines looked for openings from wide areas and set pieces, while the Sailors circulated the ball carefully through midfield.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in regulation time, and the final moved into extra time with fatigue evident across the pitch.
The decisive moment arrived in the 115th minute when Diogo Costa’s low cut-back found Hami arriving late into the box, the substitute finishing first time. Tampines pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but were punished at the death as Lopes latched onto a long clearance from Šušak to seal the win.
Man of the Match Bailey Wright highlighted the belief and togetherness within the Sailors squad as they once again delivered when it mattered most.
