It was a goal that was greeted with loud cheers at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Saturday night (July 27), and one that goalscorer Madison Telmer will remember for a long time.

Madison’s goal will likely be her last for the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team, at least for the foreseeable future. It marked a fairytale end to the Canadian midfielder’s time with the Sailors, as the 20-year-old left Singapore that same night to travel to the United States to continue her studies.

Interestingly, her goal, a header from a Sarah Zu’risqha corner in the 87th minute, came at a crucial moment in the match and helped the Sailors to a 3-0 victory over Hougang United in the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL).

It’s no surprise that Madison was thrilled to say goodbye to the Sailors in such a memorable way.

“It felt great to end on a high. From the beginning of the match, I was hoping that I could score one last goal and secure a victory for our team. Coach Daniel (Ong) even told me to score a goal as a parting gift. We struggled at the beginning, but to end a hard-fought victory with a goal was an incredible feeling,” Madison said with a broad grin.

Madison leaves the Sailors not only with a win, but also with the knowledge that the team remains top of the WPL standings – three points ahead of their title rivals, Albirex Niigata (S), who defeated Tiong Bahru 13-0 later that evening.

An exciting affair

However, Madison’s fairytale ending did not come easily.

The Sailors were frustrated by a resilient and disciplined Hougang team for much of the game, with their best chances in the first half coming from long range shots by Umairah Hamdan.

The Cheetahs also posed a threat on the counter through Singapore internationals Nicole Lim and Raudhah Kamis, but the Sailors’ defensive line was effective in keeping them at bay.

After a goalless first half, the Sailors knew they had to step it up a notch in the second 45 minutes to secure the three points.

“We realised we were playing at their (Hougang’s) pace and the limited movement in the middle was limiting our gameplay,” Sailors full-back Nur Syazwani Ruzi shared. “We knew we could keep the ball more forward and move it, so we had to do that.”

Substitutes make the difference

Daniel made some necessary changes after the break, bringing on Josephine Ang and Nurhidayu Nazri, giving the Sailors some much-needed energy.

The changes paid off as the Sailors opened the scoring in the 68th minute through Wani, who volleyed home a loose ball.

“I was in the right place at the right time… We tried hard to score but couldn’t capitalize on our chances, so it was important that we got the opening goal,” Wani said. “This game definitely taught us the importance of patience and teamwork.”

With a small one-goal lead, the Sailors were constantly in danger of conceding the equalizer.

That was until Madison decided the match with her goal to secure the victory, after which the Sailors put the icing on the cake with an own goal in injury time.

The job is not done yet

Daniel praised his team for fighting until the end for victory, but also acknowledged that they still had more work to do in their preparations for the upcoming Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) qualifiers.

“Hougang played very defensivelyve game which made it difficult for us to break through. From our side, when we had possession, we were either a bit slow in terms of our combination play or we rushed sometimes. We got the three points but we know we still have a lot of work to do if we want to do well in the AWCL next month.”

An emotional farewell

With seven goals in 11 WPL games this season, Madison – a member of the 2022 and 2023 WPL title-winning teams – has consistently shown her influence in the Sailors’ engine room.

Daniel praised the 19-year-old for her dedication and professionalism, as he said: “Madi’s dedication and attitude have been outstanding throughout her time here. She is always willing to learn and improve, and she never fails to deliver for us. It is a real honour to coach a player like her. I wish Madi nothing but the best in her new journey, and the Sailors will always welcome her back.”

A tearful Madison admitted that she will miss the Sailors family, as she said: “This team is like a family to me and training is the best part of my day. I will miss them so much – all my teammates, coaches, backroom staff, physical therapists, the fans… everyone. I will always cheer for them, even if I’m halfway around the world.”

The Sailors will take on Tanjong Pagar United in the WPL next Saturday (August 3), while also preparing for the AWCL. They hope to carry their winning momentum into their first ever regional competition next month.