SINGAPORE -- The Mark Jackson era has officially begun at Lion City Sailors.
And while it was not the winning start they would have been hoping for at Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday evening, there was certainly enough for Jackson and his new charges to be content with in their 1-1 draw with Thai League 1 outfit BG Pathum United in the AFC Champions League Two.
The Sailors took the lead in the 24th minute, when BGPU defender Marko Nikolić's attempt to prevent Hugo Gomes from getting a close-range shot away -- after a freekick from the right was helped on into the area -- only succeeded in diverting the ball into his own goal.
Nonetheless, the visitors would hit back six minutes into the second half when a visionary pass by Chanathip Songkrasin released Patrik Gustavsson inside the box to send a clinical finish past Victor Aznar.
Chanathip was then unlucky to have what would have been a fine solo effort kept out by the woodwork, while the Sailors also pressed to reclaim the lead.
Still, with neither side able to find a winner, both were left to settle for a share of the spoils to begin their continental campaign for the 2026-27 season.
For a side looking to make amends for last season's disappointing group-stage exit, which came right after their heroic run to the final in 2024-25, a draw at home may not seem like an ideal start.
Nonetheless, it has to be acknowledged that BGPU were always going to be formidable opposition. Already, it looks like the two knockout round berths in Group F could be a three-way battle between them, LCS and Adelaide United, who claimed a 3-0 win over Hong Kong's Tai Po in the evening's other game.
Like the Sailors, BGPU have brought in significant reinforcements over the offseason. Seven of their starting XI on Thursday were fresh faces, which meant they could even afford to leave established Thailand internationals like Sarach Yooyen, Waris Choolthong and Elias Dolah, as well as Brazilian striker Raniel, on the bench.
But LCS have also bolstered their ranks. And several impressive displays were the reason why they can be optimistic following the draw.
Guadeloupe international Matthias Phaëton already looks like he could be a real creative force down the left. He had the the opposition defence bamboozled with his nifty dribbling. On several occasions, it almost seemed as though he was pretending to have lost control of the ball on purpose -- only to use his strength and speed to burst past his opponent after baiting them in.
French midfielder Giovanni Haag was a steadying influence in the middle of the park. He sat deep to allow Song Ui-Young to charge forward whenever the latter pleased in his box-to-box role. It was his set-piece delivery that forced one BGPU defender to nod the ball backwards at full stretch that led to Nikolić's own-goal, while he came agonisingly close to scoring one of his own with a sumptuous freekick in the 76th minute.
Singapore international Farhan Zulkifli represented the small local contingent in the starting XI with an electric display down the right, combining well with another new arrival in Georgian full-back Jorge Karseladze -- who looks as steady as they come.
And then, the Sailors had Brazilian goalkeeper Aznar to thank for a share of the spoils when he made a stunning save at full stretch to claw away Raniel's goal-bound header with just nine minutes left on the block. Aznar already has had a nervy moment or two in the Sailors' previous games but this was proof of his sheer shot-stopping ability.
Of course, it was far from perfect from the Sailors -- and it was never going to be given Jackson had only taken his first training session two days earlier.
BGPU had enough chances to come away with the victory. Apart from the efforts by Chanathip and Raniel that were kept out by the bar and Aznar respectively, Gustavsson also spurned a gilt-edged opportunity when he headed off target while unmarked inside the six-yard box, while another late foray forward was only repelled by a desperate goal-line clearance by the Sailors defence.
At the other end, while the Sailors pieced together plenty of enterprising moves, there seemed to be a lack of invention with the final ball into the box. Especially when they worked it out wide, the straightforward and obvious pass across the face of goal was often the one they went for -- which was comfortably dealt with by the BGPU defence.
But it does feel like the individual pieces of the puzzle are all there. As Jackson alluded to in his prematch news conference, it is now down to him to fit in all together.
Considering he only had two days, a draw against BGPU to begin his reign is hardly a disappointing result. It could even be a positive one.
What is now intriguing is how far Jackson -- who won trebles with both Central Coast Mariners and Buriram United in his two previous jobs -- can take a Sailors team that has dominated domestic football over the past two years this season.
