Singapore shrugged off an early goal and sustained Indian pressure to pull off a 2-1 heist at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, as Song Ui-young struck twice to avenge last Thursday’s 1-1 draw.
“We knew away games in the qualifiers would never be easy. Today, we knew we had to get stuck in and that we had to do a lot better than how we started in the first half. Credit to the boys, they rallied together,” Singapore interim head coach Gavin Lee said.
“I knew how much the boys hurt after the first game, especially playing at home… And for us to go out there and come back after going one goal down to get a win, I’m just very, very happy for them,” Lee added, of his first win since taking charge.
Lions Efficient Despite Indian Dominance
In Goa, India, the Lions were the more clinical side, making their chances count while India squandered theirs, despite dominating for long spells of the game and creating 13 attempts to Singapore’s five.
“We struggled in the first 25 minutes because India pressed really hard. But we found out how to escape (the press) and build up,” Song shared. “Most importantly, the players kept calm and managed to stick with the plan.”
“They emptied their tanks just to defend those crosses and the penalty box. So I thought it was well-deserved for the team. Very, very happy for them,” Lee added.
In the other Group C fixture of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, Bangladesh grabbed a late equaliser through Rakib Hossain to hold group leaders Hong Kong to a 1-1 draw at a sold-out Kai Tak Stadium.
Tight at the Top
Wednesday (Oct 15) night’s results breathed new life into the Lions’ qualifying campaign, with Singapore and Hong Kong now level at the top on eight points, while the South Asian sides sit on two and are out of the running.
“We’ve only done the job to put us back in contention for qualifying. And that’s our next focus,” Lee said. “I think we are all very aware of it as a squad, and we definitely want to write our own chapter. But we don’t dream a lot, we just focus on the work. And hopefully, our work will take us there.”
Having spent much of the previous encounter camped in their own half, the Blue Tigers came out with greater intent this time, answering head coach Khalid Jamil’s call for a more front-footed approach as attackers Naorem Mahesh Singh and Sunil Chhetri spearheaded the press.
Their efforts reaped dividends early on when a stray pass from Safuwan Baharudin into the middle of the park fell to Lallianzuala Chhangte.
The Mumbai City winger uncorked a 35-yard screamer that curled away from a diving Izwan Mahbud, for his ninth international goal and first of the campaign. So spectacular was the strike that Khalid dropped to his knees and kissed the ground in delight.
Just before the half-hour mark, India had another gilt-edged chance when Chhangte used his pace to beat his marker on the left and fizzed a ball across goal, but Liston Colaco’s effort was cleared off the line this time by an alert and well-positioned Safuwan.
Song Turns the Tide
As in the reverse fixture, Singapore found their breakthrough late in the first half.
In the 44th minute, an Irfan Najeeb cross was cleared only as far as Glenn Kweh, who cushioned the ball into the path of Song. The Lion City Sailors midfielder guided a low shot into the bottom corner to bring his side level.
Song then found the crucial second after the interval, after a well-worked counterattack. On the break, Shawal picked out an isolated Song on the right, and he thumped a left-footed strike high into the net.
“It comes down to a lack of consideration. We played well, but we have to concentrate. In the first half, we did well, but in the last minute, they equalised. And in the second half, we didn’t start well, so I think it is due to a lack of concentration,” Khalid said. “It is not good to lose on home ground after playing good football. We have to rectify our mistakes.”
20 minutes from time, fortune smiled on the Lions when Ilhan Fandi, already on a booking, stuck out a leg in a late challenge but escaped a second yellow.
Singapore continued to ride that wave of luck as they somehow survived a late flurry of attacks, as India conjured chance after chance but could not find the back of the net.
All Eyes on Hong Kong Showdown
Now, they will turn their focus to a winner-takes-all playoff against Hong Kong at what is likely to be a packed Kai Tak Stadium on Nov 18.
“We are very close to Hong Kong (in the standings)… We will take it match by match and give it everything to get three points against Hong Kong,” Song said.
