The first leg of the Singapore Cup 2025/26 semi-finals saw big wins in both ties as the battle for a place in the final began to take shape. Lion City Sailors came out 4-1 winners over group-stage qualifiers Balestier Khalsa at Bishan Stadium, while Singapore Cup group winners Albirex Niigata (S) fell 4-0 to 2024/25 runners-up BG Tampines Rovers at the Jurong East Stadium. 

Sailors set the tone with 4-1 win over Balestier 

Balestier Khalsa 1-4 Lion City Sailors | Bishan Stadium | 14 December

(Bogdan Mandic 12’ | Bailey Wright 26', Lennart Thy 34', Shawal Anuar 48’, Anderson Lopes 57’) 

Defending Singapore Cup champions Lion City Sailors laid down an early marker in their title defence, producing a composed and clinical performance to seize control of their semi-final tie against Balestier Khalsa.

Despite the Tigers striking first in the 12th minute, the Sailors responded with composure and asserted themselves through in the final third – with their attacking unit moving the ball sharply and punishing gaps in the Tigers’ defence. The Sailors’ control of possession allowed them to dictate the tempo, while decisive finishing ensured Balestier were kept at arm’s length.

Balestier's group-stage run was mostly dependent on Tin Matic’s goals but chances were harder to come by on Sunday against a well-organised Sailors backline. While the Tigers continued to show fight, they now head into the second leg knowing they must produce a near-perfect performance to overturn the deficit and keep their Cup dream alive.

Balestier Khalsa: Mario Mustapic, Darren Teh, Tajeli Salamat, Madhu Mohana (C), Mario Subaric, Harith Kanadi (Ifat Sha’aban 85’), Masahiro Sugita, Ignatius Ang (Fudhil I’Yadh 75’), Tin Matic, Elijah Lim, Bogdan Mandic (Daniel Goh 78’)

Unused subs: Martyn Mun, Hafiz Ahmad, Syabil Hisham, Tiago Barbosa Martins, Lin Ze Hao, Karthigaya Varmaan

Lion City Sailors: Izwan Mahbud, Toni Datkovic, Shawal Anuar, Rui Pires, Lennart Thy, Song Uiyoung (Abdul Rasaq Akeem 75’), Hami Syahin (Christopher van Huizen 46’), Maxime Lestienne (Tsiy William Ndenge 67’), Anderson Lopes, Bailey Wright (C) (Lionel Tan 86’), Diogo Costa (Nur Adam Abdullah 83’)

Unused subs: Ivan Susak, Hafiz Nor, Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Akram Azman

Stags storm ahead with 4-0 demolition of Albirex 

Albirex Niigata (S) 0-4 BG Tampines Rovers | Jurong East Stadium | 14 December

(Hide Higashikawa 56', Joel Chew 76', Trent Buhagiar 86’, Tara Ndao 90+3’) 

BG Tampines Rovers stunned Albirex Niigata (S) with a merciless second-half performance at the Jurong East Stadium to take a dominating 4-0 first-leg lead in the Singapore Cup semi-final.

The Stags threatened throughout the first half, creating a host of chances but lacking the final touch to turn dominance into goals. The White Swans resistance finally broke in the second period, and once Tampines found the breakthrough – through Hide Higashikawa in the 56th minute – the goals seemed to flow freely, with Joel Chew, Trent Buhagiar and Tara Ndao giving the Stags a big 4-0 win.  

Albirex, who had cruised through the group stage on the back of Shingo Nakano’s goals and their trademark control, were unable to impose their rhythm, as Tampines dictated proceedings and punished every lapse with clinical finishing, leaving the White Swans to face a daunting task heading into the second leg.

Albirex Niigata (S): Hassan Sunny, Kim Taeuk, Nozomi Ozawa (Komei Iida 77’), Jared Gallagher (Jaden Heng 77’), Naoki Yoshioka, Takumi Yokohata, Katsuyuki Ishibashi (Ren Nishimura 70’), Cho Eunsu, Nicky Melvin Singh (Danish Qayyum 70’), Haziq Kamarudin (Syed Firdaus Hassan 64’), Shingo Nakano (C)

Unused subs: Takahiro Koga, Dylan Pereira, Amy Recha, Helmi Shahrol, Syukri Bashir, Delwinder Singh

BG Tampines Rovers: Syazwan Buhari (C), Shuya Yamashita, Amirul Adli, Seiga Sumi, Glenn Kweh (Tara Ndao 77’), Trent Anthony Buhagiar (Taufik Suparno 90+1’), Joel Chew (Kegan Phang 90+1’), Irfan Najeeb, Hide Higashikawa, Takeshi Yoshimoto, Kohya Kazama (Faris Ramli 70’)

Unused subs: Nalawich Intacharoen, Dylan James Fox, Amirul Haikal, Zikos Chua, Iman Hakim, Witthawat Phraothaisong, Naufal Mohammad