Making the trip to southeast Asia, the Sky Blues had plenty of possession and territory in the oppressive humidity at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday but rarely produced anything approximating a proper threat in the attacking third.
The Singapore side were up two goals before the visitors even registered a shot on target, former Dutch international Bart Ramselaar thundering a long-range effort into the top corner in the 18th minute and an acute angle proving no impediment to German striker Lennart Thy blasting home a second in the 53rd.
Given a lifeline in the quarters when their 6-1 loss at Sanfrecce Hiroshima was reversed due to the latter fielding an ineligible player in ex-Macarthur captain Valere Germain, the Sailors had held the Japanese outfit to a 1-1 draw in the return home leg and their defensive discipline was again on show on Wednesday.
Thrown on at halftime, Sky Blue supersub Adrian Segecic tried to spark things with two quickfire chances in the 66th and 67th minute but had his first effort deflected away by former Socceroo defender Bailey Wright while his second went agonisingly wide.
Joe Lolley forced Izwan Mahbud into action from range moments later and Ufuk Talay's side attempted to finish strong.
Yet despite setting up camp in the Sailors' half, Lolley's comfortably saved attempt proved their only shot on target for the evening.
Sydney's hopes of hosting this year's ACL2 final now rest upon overcoming a two-goal deficit in next Wednesday's second leg at the Sydney Football Stadium, days after they host table-toppers Auckland FC in the A-League Men.
