In a pulsating ASEAN Championship semifinal encounter at Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore slumped to a devastating 2-0 defeat against Vietnam after a contentious finish saw the visiting side net two goals in second half stoppage time. The Lions now face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit in Sunday’s second leg in Việt Trì.
Late Penalty Drama Sparks Controversy
The pivotal moment arrived in the 96th minute when Singapore’s impassioned appeals for a penalty after Faris Ramli tumbled in the box were waved off by the referee, much to the dismay of the partisan home crowd. In a cruel twist just minutes later, Vietnam were awarded a spot-kick at the other end following a VAR review, despite the Lions’ vehement protests.
“Football is like this. Up till the final minute [of the 90] it was 0-0 but in [added] time we [conceded] two goals. I always tell the players that football is not just 90 minutes. It’s 90-plus minutes.”
– Tsutomu Ogura, Singapore Head Coach
Nguyễn Tiến Linh coolly converted from 12 yards to give Vietnam the lead, sparking jubilant scenes in the away dugout. Salt was then rubbed in Singapore’s wounds when Rafaelson, cast as the pantomime villain by the Jalan Besar faithful, rifled home a second in the dying embers to put clear daylight between the teams.
Positives for the Lions Despite Defeat
For all the late heartache, Singapore can take several positives from a display in which they matched their highly-fancied opponents for large portions. The hosts’ incessant pressing forced numerous Vietnam turnovers, with the unfamiliar artificial surface making the loose balls difficult for the visiting players to read.
The Lions nearly capitalized on one such turnover in the 68th minute, but Taufik Suparno saw his goal-bound effort superbly repelled by Nguyễn Đình Triệu. Earlier, Shawal Anuar had the ball in the net following a slick counter-attack only to see his celebrations cut short by the offside flag.
Ogura Looks Ahead to Second Leg
Despite the agonizing nature of the defeat, Singapore head coach Tsutomu Ogura refused to be downhearted, instead focusing on the positives ahead of a do-or-die return encounter.
“There were some good moments when we weren’t afraid to pass the ball around…we showed we can play our football. Now, it’s about how many minutes in the 90 we can play this football.”
– Tsutomu Ogura, Singapore Head Coach
The Japanese tactician called on his charges to draw on their mental reserves as they prepare for the trip to Vietnam knowing they need a monumental effort to keep their championship aspirations alive.
“Now we have to recover mentally. I always tell the players ‘this game is now over’. The result is 0-2 but 0-2 is a dangerous score.”
– Tsutomu Ogura, Singapore Head Coach
Indeed, while the Lions undoubtedly face a stern examination of their title credentials, the prospect of a memorable comeback cannot be discounted. After all, as a certain English Premier League side demonstrated just a few years ago, it’s never over until it’s over when the stakes are at their highest.
Sunday’s second leg promises to be a red-letter occasion as Singapore football stands on the precipice. Against a Vietnam side with one foot already in the final, the Lions must produce nothing short of a lionhearted display. A place in ASEAN Championship history beckons for the victors.