2025 AFC Champions League Two final

The final of the 2024–25 edition of the AFC Champions League Two

Football match

2025 AFC Champions League Two final

Bishan Stadium in Singapore hosted the final

Event| 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two
| Lion City Sailors | Sharjah

|

1 | 2
Date| 18 May 2025 (2025-05-18)
Venue| Bishan Stadium, Singapore
Referee| Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)[1]
Attendance| 9,737

<- 2024 (AFC Cup)

2026 ->

The 2025 AFC Champions League Two final was the final match of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two, the 20th season of Asia's secondary club football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the first since it was rebranded as the AFC Champions League Two. It was played on 18 May 2025 in Singapore.[2]

The winners were given an indirect preliminary stage slot for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite, if not already qualified through their domestic performance.

## Teams

[edit]

Team  | Region (Federation) | Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners)

|
|

Lion City Sailors | East (AFF)  | None
Sharjah | West (WAFF)  | None

## Venue

[edit]

The final venue was pre-determined on a rotation basis, with the match hosted by the Lion City Sailors in Singapore. Despite initial expectations that the final would be held at National Stadium, the venue was unavailable due to a scheduled Lady Gaga concert on the same night.[3] On 17 April 2025, Sharjah objected to the final taking place at Jalan Besar Stadium citing concern about the venue's artificial turf and limited seating capacity.[4][5] Lion City Sailors disagreed with Sharjah’s objection, noting that the venue had hosted all of their six home matches in the tournament up to that point and was certified by the AFC to host AFC Champions League Two matches.[6]

The AFC confirmed on 22 April 2025, that the final would be hosted at the Bishan Stadium, with necessary upgrades to the venue made ahead of the match.[7][8]

## Route to the final

[edit]

Further information: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

Lion City Sailors | Round  |  Sharjah

|
|

Opponent  | Result  | Group stage | Opponent  | Result
Zhejiang | 2–0 (H)  | Matchday 1  |  Istiklol | 1–0 (A)
Persib Bandung | 1–1 (A)  | Matchday 2  |  Al-Wehdat | 2–2 (H)
Port | 3–1 (A)  | Matchday 3  |  Sepahan | 3–1 (H)
Persib Bandung | 2–3 (H)  | Matchday 4  |  Sepahan | 1–3 (A)
Zhejiang | 2–4 (A)  | Matchday 5  |  Istiklol | 3–1 (H)
Port | 5–2 (A)  | Matchday 6  |  Al-Wehdat | 3–1 (A)
Group F winner | Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | Pts

|
|
|

1  |  Lion City Sailors | 6  | 10
2  |  Port | 6  | 10
3  |  Zhejiang | 6  | 9
4  |  Persib | 6  | 5

Source: AFC

Final standings | Group C winner | Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | Pts

|
|
|

1  |  Sharjah | 6  | 13
2  |  Al-Wehdat | 6  | 11
3  |  Sepahan | 6  | 10
4  |  Istiklol | 6  | 0

Source: AFC

Opponent  | Agg.  | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Knockout stage | Opponent  | Agg.  | 1st leg | 2nd leg
Muangthong United | 7–2  | 3–2
(A)  | 4–0
(H)  | Round of 16  |  Al-Hussein | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–0 p) | 1–0 (A)  | 0–1 (H)
Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 4–1  | 3–0[note 1]
(A)  | 1–1
(H)  | Quarter-finals  |  Shabab Al Ahli | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | 1–1 (A)  | 1–1 (H)
Sydney FC | 2–1  | 2–0
(H)  | 0–1
(A)  | Semi-finals  |  Al Taawoun | 2–1  | 0–1 (A)  | 2–0 (H)

## Match

[edit]

### Details

[edit]

18 May 2025 (2025-05-18)

20:00 UTC+8

Lion City Sailors | 1–2|  Sharjah

|
|

Lestienne 90+1' | Report |

* Ben Larbi 74'
* Meloni 90+7'

Bishan Stadium, Singapore

Attendance: 9,737

Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)

Lion City Sailors

Sharjah

|

|  |

|

GK | 1 |  Izwan Mahbud
CB | 14 |  Hariss Harun (c) |  |  88'
CB | 26 |  Bailey Wright |  89'
CB | 4 |  Toni Datković
RWB | 16 |  Hami Syahin |  |  90'
LWB | 29 |  Diogo Costa |  80'
RM | 17 |  Maxime Lestienne
CM | 15 |  Song Ui-young
CM | 8 |  Rui Pires |  |  79'
LM | 10 |  Bart Ramselaar
CF | 9 |  Lennart Thy
Substitutes:
GK | 13 |  Adib Azahari
GK | 28 |  Zharfan Rohaizad
DF | 5 |  Lionel Tan |  |  90'
DF | 11 |  Hafiz Nor
DF | 20 |  Sergio Carmona
DF | 22 |  Christopher van Huizen
DF | 30 |  Akram Azman
DF | 68 |  Ali Al Rina
MF | 6 |  Anumanthan Kumar
MF | 18 |  Obren Kljajić
FW | 7 |  Shawal Anuar |  |  79'
FW | 21 |  Abdul Rasaq Akeem |  |  88'
Manager:
Aleksandar Ranković
|  |  |

|

GK | 40 |  Adel Al-Hosani
RB | 19 |  Khaled Ibrahim |  79' |  86'
CB | 4 |  Shahin Abdulrahman (c)
CB | 20 |  Cho Yu-min
LB | 44 |  David Petrović |  |  81'
DM | 88 |  Majed Hassan |  |  90+11'
RM | 10 |  Firas Ben Larbi |  45' |  81'
CM | 22 |  Marcus Meloni
LM | 11 |  Luanzinho |  87' |  90+7'
CF | 30 |  Ousmane Camara
CF | 7 |  Caio Lucas
Substitutes:
GK | 1 |  Khaled Tawhid
GK | 17 |  Mayed Mohsen
DF | 3 |  Al Hassan Saleh
DF | 5 |  Maro Katinić |  |  86'
DF | 18 |  Abdullah Ghanem |  |  90+11'
MF | 8 |  Mohammed Abdulbasit |  |  81'
MF | 14 |  Khaled Ba Wazir
MF | 16 |  Darko Nejašmić
MF | 27 |  Guilherme Biro |  |  87'
MF | 49 |  Adel Taarabt |  |  81'
FW | 23 |  Tyrone Conraad
FW | 55 |  Herman Junior Kameni
Manager:
Cosmin Olăroiu

Assistant referees:[1]
Mohamed Salman (Bahrain)
Abdulla Al-Rowaimi (Bahrain)
Fourth official:[1]
Mohamed Deham (Bahrain)
Fifth official:[1]
Faisal Al-Awi (Bahrain)
Video assistant referee:[1]
Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
Assistant video assistant referee:[1]
Meshari Al-Shamari (Qatar)

Match rules

* 90 minutes.
* 30 minutes of extra time if tied.
* Penalty shoot-out if still tied after extra time.
* Twelve named substitutes, of which up to five may be used, with a sixth allowed in extra time.[note 2]

|

## See also

[edit]

* 2025 AFC Champions League Elite final (1st Tier)
* 2025 AFC Challenge League final (3rd Tier)
* 2025 AFC Women's Champions League final (Women's)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Lion City Sailors were awarded a 0–3 victory by forfeit, after Sanfrecce Hiroshima fielded an ineligible player. The score on the field was originally a 6–1 win by Sanfrecce Hiroshima.[9][10]
2. ^ Each team was only given three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "Match officials confirmed for ACGL and ACL Two finales". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
2. ^ "AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25: Knockout Stage showdowns to ignite #ACLTwo". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
3. ^ Radley, Paul (19 April 2025). "Lady Gaga concert casts shadow over Sharjah's AFC Champions League Two final plans". The National. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
4. ^ Kwek, Kimberly (19 April 2025). "Sharjah FC do not want Asian final against Lion City Sailors to be held at Jalan Besar Stadium". The Straits Times. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
5. ^ Kwek, Kimberly (20 April 2025). "We have earned the right to host Asian Champions League Two final: Lion City Sailors". The Straits Times. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
6. ^ "Lion City Sailors FC Statement on AFC Champions League Two Final Venue". Lion City Sailors. 19 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
7. ^ "ACL Two: Bishan Stadium Confirmed as Venue for Final". SNE Sports. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
8. ^ "Update on 2024/25 AFC Champions League Two Final Venue". Lion City Sailors. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
9. ^ Tan, Gabriel (8 March 2025). "Lion City Sailors handed AFC Champions League Two lifeline over Sanfrecce Hiroshima fielding suspended player". ESPN Singapore. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
10. ^ "List of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee decision 8 March 2025" (PDF). the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

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