Ilhan Fandi could hardly have asked for a better debut with Lion City Sailors.
The Singapore forward scored twice in the first half as the Sailors beat Tampines Rovers 2-0 to win the 2026/27 Playback Community Shield at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday, 6 September.
A crowd of 3,865 watched the season-opening match, with Ilhan finding the net in the 17th and 26th minutes.
Ilhan Scores Twice Within Nine Minutes
The Sailors took the lead after 17 minutes when Portuguese left-back Diogo Costa sent a cross into the penalty area.
Ilhan got to the ball first and headed it home for his first goal for his new club.
Just nine minutes later, the 23-year-old struck again.
Farhan Zulkifli delivered from the right after combining with Bart Ramselaar, and Ilhan’s attempt went in off the post to make it 2-0.
Tampines had opportunities to get back into the match before half-time.
Hide Higashikawa, who was named the SPL Player of the Year last season, hit the post after Sailors goalkeeper Victor Aznar had come out of his goal. Seiga Sumi also struck the woodwork with a long-range effort shortly before the break.
Neither side scored in the second half, leaving Ilhan’s two early goals to decide the match.
A Much Better Community Shield for the Sailors This Time
The result also reversed what happened in last season’s Community Shield.
Tampines had beaten the Sailors 4-1 in that match to claim the trophy for a record sixth time.
The Sailors went on to finish ahead of Tampines in the Singapore Premier League, however, and entered Sunday’s match as the defending champions.
This year’s victory gives the Sailors the first piece of silverware available in the 2026/27 domestic season.
The match was also the first for interim coach Varo Moreno since the departure of head coach Jesús Casas five days earlier.
Ilhan Returned to Singapore After Playing Overseas
Ilhan joined the Sailors on a two-year contract in July 2026, marking his return to the Singapore Premier League after several years abroad.
He last played in the SPL in 2022 with Albirex Niigata (S), when he scored 17 goals, was the league’s top local scorer and won the Young Player of the Year award.
He subsequently moved to Belgian side KMSK Deinze before playing in Thailand for BG Pathum United and, on loan, Buriram United.
Now back in Singapore, he has taken only one competitive match to get his first two Sailors goals and his first trophy with the club.
The SPL season proper begins on 11 September. Tampines face Balestier Khalsa that day, while the Sailors begin their title defence against Hougang United on 12 September.
