Lion City Sailors’ late heroics weren’t enough as the Singaporean giants fell to a 2-1 defeat against Emirati powerhouse Sharjah FC in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Two final on May 18 — a result that extended Southeast Asia’s long-standing struggles in Asian club finals.
Playing the showpiece match on home soil at Bishan Stadium, the Sailors held their own against a Sharjah side widely seen as favorites. After a cagey, goalless first half, Firas Ben Arbi broke the deadlock in the 74th minute. But the Sailors refused to go quietly—Maxime Lestienne drew them level with a dramatic equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time, setting the stage for a potential extra-time showdown.
However, just as momentum seemed to shift, a lapse in concentration proved costly. In the seventh minute of added time, Marcus Meloni capitalized on a defensive error to restore Sharjah’s lead and seal the title, leaving the Sailors—and Southeast Asia—once again empty-handed at the final hurdle.
The defeat marked the fifth time a Southeast Asian club has lost a continental final since the modern era of AFC competitions began in 2002/03. In total, seven clubs from the region have reached the final of various AFC tournaments, including the AFC Champions League, AFC Cup, AFC President’s Cup, and their current iterations: AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and AFC Challenge League.
These clubs include BEC Tero Sasana (Thailand), Yadanarbon FC (Myanmar), Phnom Penh Crown and Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng (Cambodia), Johor Darul Ta’zim and Kuala Lumpur City FC (Malaysia), and the Lion City Sailors (Singapore). Of the seven, only Yadanarbon—winners of the 2010 AFC President’s Cup—and JDT—champions of the 2015 AFC Cup—have lifted silverware, beating Dordoi-Dynamo (now Dordoi Bishkek) and FC Istiklol respectively.
Others came close but fell short: BEC Tero lost 2-1 on aggregate to Al Ain in the 2002/03 AFC Champions League final, Phnom Penh Crown fell 3-2 to Taipower FC in the 2011 AFC President’s Cup, Kuala Lumpur City were outclassed 3-0 by Al-Seeb in the 2022 AFC Cup, while both Svay Rieng and the Sailors suffered narrow defeats in this season’s finals—2-1 losses to FK Arkadag and Sharjah, respectively.
While Australia—a nominal member of the ASEAN Football Federation—has enjoyed more success through Adelaide United, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Central Coast Mariners, their clubs are generally not classified as Southeast Asian due to geographic and structural differences within AFC competition.
Though the Sailors’ defeat adds to a sobering list of near-misses for Southeast Asia, the increasing presence of regional clubs in AFC finals over the past decade signals quiet but steady progress. From JDT’s historic triumph in 2015 to a growing number of appearances by clubs from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore, the region is beginning to stake its claim on the continental stage. Success may remain elusive for now, but with greater investment, improved club infrastructure, and more competitive exposure, Southeast Asia’s long wait for continental glory may one day come to a triumphant end.