SINGAPORE – The Lions took one other step towards a spot within the semi-finals of the Suzuki Cup for the primary time in 9 years, after they beat the Philippines 2-1 on the Nationwide Stadium on Wednesday (Dec 8) evening.
The win was in no way emphatic, with the hosts scoring twice in a three-minute spell within the second half solely to be pegged again after conceding six minutes after scoring their second aim.
Singapore coach Tatsuma Yoshida made 4 adjustments to the facet that beat Myanmar 3-0 of their Suzuki Cup opener final Sunday, surprisingly leaving midfielders Shahdan Sulaiman and Tune Ui-young on the bench, though The Straits Instances understands the pair had been carrying minor accidents.
Tune was an brisk presence in midfield towards Myanmar whereas Shahdan registered two assists.
With out them, the Lions lacked creativity in assault and striker Ikhsan Fandi, who scored twice on Sunday, didn’t have a single try at aim within the first half.
However the sport got here alive after Tune’s introduction in its place within the sixtieth minute, when he changed the injured Gabriel Quak.
Skipper Hariss Harun opened the scoring only a minute later, nodding residence from a nook kick that was flicked on in direction of him on the again publish by Safuwan Baharudin.
And within the 63rd minute, Singapore proper wingback Zulqarnaen Suzliman went on a storming run with the ball up the flank, earlier than sending an inch-perfect cross for Faris Ramli to show residence.
The house followers’ pleasure – they made up the vast majority of the 8,922 in attendance – was short-lived as Amin Nazari stole residence at a nook kick to tug a aim again for the Philippines within the 69th minute.
Tune nearly restored Singapore’s two-goal benefit however his low shot on a counter-attack within the 74th minute was saved by Filipino goalkeeper Kevin Mendoza’s outstretched leg.
The Lions had some nervy moments however noticed out the match to keep up their good report within the competitors.
They now sit atop Group A with six factors, three forward of Myanmar and Thailand, though the Thais have performed only one sport.
Evaluation
It was not fairly however the one factor that mattered was the three factors, and the Lions secured them ultimately.
However there’s loads for coach Yoshida and his costs to work on forward of their subsequent sport towards Timor-Leste on Tuesday. A win then would put them one foot within the semi-final of the Suzuki Cup for the primary time since 2012.
However Yoshida certainly can not stick with enjoying three central defenders – a tactic that he switched to within the second half of the win towards Myanmar.
In that form, the Lions have struggled to create probabilities and in-form striker Ikhsan was starved of service – he took his first shot at aim solely within the 67th minute.
Singapore could have gotten away whereas not enjoying at their greatest towards the Philippines, who had a disjointed preparation owing to them lacking a number of overseas-based or injured gamers, however they should up their sport towards sharper, stronger opponents.