Singapore defeats Thailand but exits ASEAN Championship
BANGKOK – Singapore finally toppled Thailand. It just was not enough.
On a soaked Rajamangala pitch and against a side that had beaten them 11 times in a row, the Lions won 2-1 on the night on Tuesday (Aug 18) but went out of the ASEAN football championship 4-3 on aggregate after their 3-1 home defeat last Saturday.
They arrived in Bangkok needing something close to perfect. Gavin Lee’s men came armed with urgency and bite, and for long spells they matched – and rattled – the tournament’s highest-ranked team.
Lions strike first after tense opening
The rain had left the surface heavy, the ball holding up in puddles. Thailand adapted first.
Within minutes, Patrik Gustavsson tested Singapore, his effort clipping Hariss Harun and briefly wrong-footing goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud. It was a warning. Thailand were happy to sit, absorb and then spring forward with pace.
Singapore’s attacks, in contrast, often fizzled into half chances. The Thais dropped into shape, then broke with intent.
One of those counters nearly turned the tie in the 19th minute. Gustavsson burst clear down the right, Izwan charged out, and the forward tumbled. For a moment, the stadium held its breath. After a brief VAR delay, the decision came: no foul, no penalty, play on.
That reprieve jolted the Lions.
Ilhan Fandi, the breakout star of Singapore’s campaign, began to find pockets of space. His low free-kick from just outside the area forced Kampon Phatomakkakul into a smart save, the Thailand goalkeeper getting down sharply. Minutes later, Ilhan rose to meet a cross and saw his header tipped over by Kampon, who again kept the hosts level.
Singapore’s best chance yet arrived just before the interval. Song Ui-young broke through and shot, only for Kampon to stand tall once more and push the ball away. The opportunity felt huge. So did the miss.
This time, though, Lee’s side refused to let the moment slip.
Stewart ignites belief on the stroke of half-time
As first-half stoppage time ticked away, Farhan Zulkifli injected chaos. The winger darted through on goal, skipped into space and drew out Kampon, who slid in to block. The ball spilled loose, rolling invitingly to the edge of the box.
Harhys Stewart arrived and wrapped his right foot around it. From outside the area, his curling strike arced beyond Kampon and into the net.
1-0 on the night. The deficit cut to 3-2 on aggregate. Suddenly, belief.
Thailand, seven-time champions and ranked 94th in the world, had barely been troubled in the group stage. Four games, four wins, 10 goals scored, none conceded. Now they were rattled, trudging off to regroup.
Thailand hit back from the spot
After the break, the hosts reminded everyone why they are the region’s benchmark.
They carved out a golden chance in the 53rd minute. A low cross zipped through the Singapore box and found Seksan Ratree unmarked, the goal gaping. His first touch deserted him, the ball bouncing away when it seemed easier to score.
The miss only sharpened Thailand’s intent.
Anthony Hudson’s side pushed higher, moved the ball quicker and began to pin Singapore back. Seven minutes later, the pressure told. A sweeping move dragged the Lions’ backline out of position and as Thailand drove into the area, Ryhan Stewart mistimed his challenge and brought his man down.
Penalty.
Substitute Kakana Khamyok took responsibility. He strode up and hammered his spot-kick into the top corner, giving Izwan no chance. Thailand were level at 1-1 on the night and restored their two-goal cushion in the tie at 4-2.
For Singapore, the mountain steepened again.
Lions respond, but the clock becomes the enemy
The response was immediate. The Lions have lived on the edge all tournament – a late 2-1 grind against Cambodia, a must-win over Timor-Leste, a backs-to-the-wall 0-0 in Vietnam, and a nervy 1-1 with Indonesia to squeeze into the semi-finals.
They dipped into that same reservoir of stubbornness.
Minutes after conceding, Ryhan Stewart surged forward down the right. This time, he made amends. He drilled a vicious low ball across the six-yard box, forcing defenders to react. Pansa Hemviboon stuck out a leg and the deflection flew past Kampon.
2-1 Singapore. The aggregate score back to 4-3. The away bench erupted. The impossible felt, briefly, within reach.
Thailand, though, refused to panic. They slowed the tempo, used their experience and managed the game. Singapore chased, pressed and pushed numbers forward, knowing one more goal would drag the tie into extra time.
The chance nearly came at the wrong end.
In the 79th minute, Teerasak Poeiphimai broke free and unleashed a low effort that seemed destined for the corner. Izwan flung himself across, got the faintest touch and diverted the ball onto the post and behind. It was a superb save, one that kept the Lions alive.
The minutes bled away. Every Singapore attack met a Thai block, a clearance, a tactical foul. When the final whistle went, the scoreboard showed victory for the visitors, but the aggregate told the harsher truth.
A statement win, but no final
For Singapore, this was their first victory over Thailand since that famous 3-1 win at Jalan Besar Stadium in the 2012 final first leg – the campaign that ended with the Lions lifting the trophy despite a 1-0 loss in the return match.
They have not reached the final since. That wait goes on.
Thailand advance, still on course for another title, while Singapore head home with a result that will sting and encourage in equal measure. They beat the favourites, ended a long losing run, and showed they can live with the region’s best.
The question now is simple: can this performance be a springboard, or will it stand alone as a brave, isolated night in Bangkok?
