Team Philippines celebrate their win during the 2024 ASEAN Electric Cup semi-final round football match between the Philippines and Thailand at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday, December 27, 2024. - AFP
SINGAPORE suffered two sickening stoppage-time blows on Boxing Day as they lost 2-0 to Vietnam in the first leg of the Asean Championship semi-finals at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday while Philippines upset Thailand 2-1 for their first win over their rivals in 52 years on Sunday night.
Post-match, Singapore coach Tsutomu Ogura felt his team were unlucky but needed to improve in terms of stamina, focus and consistency, after they conceded a debatable 101st-minute penalty, before what looked to be a 104th-minute knockout punch.
In the group stage, they also let in two goals in added time to lose 4-2 against defending champions Thailand, although they held on outstandingly to draw 0-0 in Malaysia to qualify for the last four.
After a resolute display in regulation time, the match turned on a couple of controversial video assistant referee (VAR) decisions.
Following sustained pressure in the second half, Singapore had a penalty claim in the 80th minute rejected by the VAR and South Korean referee Kim Woo-sung after Ho Tan Tai looked to have hauled down Faris Ramli in the box.
While he declined to comment further about the incident in the mixed zone, Singapore skipper Hariss Harun agreed his team were robbed and should have had a penalty.
The VAR then correctly chalked off a goal from Vietnam as Rafaelson’s superb goal on the turn was voided for handball in the 88th minute, with Vietnam coach Kim Sang-sik booked for his protests.
Then came the visitors’ breakthrough in added time.
Lions goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud and Shakir Hamzah failed to deal with a cross from the left, and after the VAR adjudged the defender to have handled the ball in the box, Nguyen Tien Linh successfully dispatched the resulting spot kick.
Three minutes later, Nguyen Hoang Duc’s corner was flicked on by Pham Xuan Manh for Brazil-born Rafaelson to help his adopted country bring a two-goal advantage to the second leg at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho on Dec 29, with the away-goals rule not in effect.
In Manila, the Philippines took a significant step toward their first-ever Asean Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over defending champions Thailand in the first-leg semifinal of the ASEAN Cup 2024 at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Dressed in blue and roared on by a passionate home crowd, Albert Capellas’ side delivered a spirited performance, breaking the deadlock in the 21st minute through Sandro Reyes’ stunning left-footed strike from outside the penalty box.
Thailand, coached by Masatada Ishii, responded just before halftime when a quick counterattack saw Suphanan Bureerat slot home the equaliser in the 45th minute after connecting with Patrik Gustavsson’s precise pass.
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, Enrique Linares emerged as the hero for The Azkals, scoring a dramatic winner in the 95th minute. His diving header, set up by Paul Tabinas’ flick-on from Zico Bailey’s free-kick, sent the home crowd into raptures.
The victory was historic, marking the Philippines’ first win over Thailand in 52 years. Their last triumph came in June 1972, with a narrow 1-0 victory.
This result provides a crucial morale boost for the Philippines as they prepare for the second-leg clash at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Monday.
The Philippines are now eyeing their first-ever Asean Cup final appearance. Previously, their best performance was a semifinal berth in the 2018 edition, where they fell 4-2 on aggregate to Vietnam. - Bernama
