SINGAPORE -- Singapore now have it all to do if they are to keep their dream of winning the 2026 ASEAN Championship alive -- after suffering a 3-1 loss at home to Thailand at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors broke the deadlock after 14 minutes with a fantastic passing move after winning possession just inside the opposition area. With just two passes by Kakana Khamyok and then Seksan Ratree, Teerasak Poeiphimai was released as he brilliantly took the ball into his stride before calmly stroking a shot past Izwan Mahbud.
Just 12 minutes later, the War Elephants doubled their advantage when a sweeping transition saw Waris Choolthong advance down the right and swing in an inch-perfect cross on the head of Teerasak, who had somehow been left completely unmarked to nod home his second of the evening.
The Lions then had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 35th minute when they were awarded a penalty upon VAR review for a shove on Shawal inside the area -- only for the Singapore striker to be denied from the spot by an excellent save from Kampol Pathomakkakul.
The contest was then effectively ended six minutes after the restart when Thailand again broke with great panache to score a third -- Patrik Gustavsson released down the left and squaring the ball into the box for Seksan to neatly finish past Izwan.
But, with six minutes remaining, a moment of inspiration by Ilhan Fandi saw him curl a stupendous effort from the edge of the box beyond Kampol's despairing dive and in off the post -- handing his team the thinnest of lifelines ahead of Tuesday's return encounter at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium.
More to follow...