SINGAPORE:  , The , Lion City Sailors received a huge boost to their hopes of progressing to the , Asian Football Confederation Champions League 2 semi-finals on Saturday ( Mar 8 ), after the footballing body chalked off their 6-1 loss to , Sanfrecce Hiroshima , due to the opponents fielding an ineligible player.
The , Singapore Premier League club was awarded a 3-0 get in the first foot of the quarter-finals otherwise, as the Chinese side had played , French forward , Valere Germain, who was supposed to be serving a three-match suspension.
The player came on as a substitute to score Sanfreecce ‘s , fifth goal in the match on Mar 5.
From the verge of eradication, the Seamen will presently nose into the next leg of the quarter-finals on Mar 12 at , Jalan Besar Stadium with a 3-0 result.
Sanfrecce was likewise fined US$ 1, 000 and may get only half of the , US$ 160, 000 , membership fee.
Germain is deemed to have served one suit of his expulsion, according to a decision published on the AFC site, with Sanfrecce warned that , a duplicate violation may be met with more serious abuse.
Runners-up in the J1 League next strategy, Sanfreece dominated trials in the first leg at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima facility.
Objectives from Satoshi Tanaka, Hayao Kawabe, Valere Germain, Sota Nakamura and a Ryo Germain single saw them quickly overcome the Seamen, whose sole reply came via a first-half Shawal Anuar attack.