Singapore secure historic Asian Cup qualification with spirited 2-1 comeback win over Hong Kong

(Photo credit: ST Photo/Magdalene Fung)

Source: The Straits Times

After all the years of underachievement, unrealistic dreams, heartbreaks and false dawns, the Lions celebrated their biggest accomplishment in Singapore history as they secured a maiden Asian Cup qualification with a comeback 2-1 away win over Hong Kong at the Kai Tak Stadium on Nov 18.

Substitute Ilhan Fandi, who turned the game around in four second-half minutes in his 28-minute cameo before hobbling off with an ankle injury, said: “Everyone who was involved gave their all. I’m just a player, I just try and do my job.

“Before I came in, I knew that I could change the game, and Alhamdulillah (Arabic for praise be to God), I did it. I’m so proud of the boys and to everyone back home, this one’s for you.

“It’s been a long journey, and I think it’s something the whole country can be proud of. I’m just very proud to be Singaporean.”

On the back of a remarkable perfect away record against Bangladesh, India and Hong Kong in five Group C games, the world No. 155 Lions have clinched top spot on 11 points with a game to spare.

They cannot be overtaken by the 148th-ranked Hong Kong, their nearest challengers with eight points but an inferior head-to-head record after this defeat and a 0-0 draw in Singapore in March.

The raucous atmosphere created by the scarf-waving home fans in the 47,762-strong crowd – with about 2,000 Singapore supporters – made for a nervy start with 41-year-old Hong Kong goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng dropping a 10th-minute Song Ui-young free kick.

But, having grown into the game, the hosts took over proceedings and sent their fans into raptures by taking a 15th-minute lead after Singapore failed to clear their lines.

Shah Shahiran could not prevent Brazil-born Everton Camargo from crossing from the right, and Matt Orr of New Zealand heritage was allowed to steal in between Hariss Harun and Harhys Stewart to head home the opener.

Ashley Westwood’s charges were then content to put all 11 men behind the ball, stay compact in their defensive shape, and wait for the counter-attack – particularly down the flank through Camargo, which almost paid off had Juninho and Orr been more clinical.

In contrast, the visitors’ response was uninspiring as their main men, including in-form attackers Ikhsan Fandi, Shawal Anuar, Song and Glenn Kweh, failed to create a clear opportunity to test Wang further in the first half.

But, just as they came back in the 2-1 win in India in October, the Lions showed their resilience in adversity, as interim head coach Gavin Lee brought on his wild card Ilhan for Kweh in the 57th minute to deadly effect.

Something clicked in the second half and Singapore found their attacking fluency as vulnerabilities began appearing in the previously air-tight Hong Kong defence.

The Lions equalised in the 64th minute as Shawal played a lovely give-and-go with Ilhan and deftly flicked the ball past Wang.

It got even better four minutes later.

Izwan Mahbud held on to Camargo’s drilled effort and launched an attack, which ended with Ilhan blasting a left-footed shot past Wang to send Singapore into dream land and Asian Cup history.

Safuwan Baharudin, outstanding and selfless alongside Hariss in the heart of defence with several crucial interventions, said: “We are over the moon.

“Their early goal caught us by surprise, but we stayed calm and came back really strong.

“Things weren’t going the way we wanted in the first half, but credit to the boys, we managed to again come back in an away game.

“We have all come a long way, gone through so many obstacles, and not just in this campaign. We showed character and this is something we have to build on.”

Lee, who was born in 1990 like Izwan and Hariss but went down the coaching path after realising he was not good enough as a player, was a personification of calm even when his side went ahead.

But he admitted to being reduced to tears by the senior players after the win was secured.

The 35-year-old said: “We have been speaking about how football is not perfect, just like life. And if shit hits the fan, it’s our job to react and deal with it... as long as we stay in the game, then we always know that we have quality players to help us to finish the game.

“I’m just so happy for everyone involved – all the players, staff and the administrators. What we achieved tonight is a consequence of everybody pulling together.

“Also, none of this would have been possible if not for the PE teachers, the youth coaches of the past.

“So, this milestone that we’ve achieved is for everyone, it’s for Singapore. It’s not just for me or the national team. Hopefully, everybody in Singapore tonight will have a nice sleep.”

Despite wildly ambitious plans to reach the 2010 and 2034 World Cup, qualifying for a major tournament remained a distant dream even if the Lions did feature in the 1984 Asian Cup as hosts.

They came close to making it to the 1996 Asian Cup, but blew their chance after throwing away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Thailand in their final qualifier when they needed a win.

Similarly, they lost 2-1 at Jordan and missed out on the 2011 edition despite requiring a draw in their last qualifier.

The Lions have been in the doldrums ever since they won the last of their four Asean titles in 2012.

Since then, they have made it to the semi-finals of the Asean Championship only in the 2020 and 2024 editions, and have nothing to show for at youth level other than a bronze medal at the 2013 SEA Games Under-23 tournament.

At senior level, they have gone through five full-time coaches since Radojko Avramovic left in 2012, and this Asian Cup qualifying campaign was again disrupted by a coaching change as Tsutomu Ogura left in June due to personal reasons and his assistant Lee stepped up.

But unlike his more recent predecessors, the 59-year-old Japanese, who had experience as assistant coach for the Japan national and Olympic teams, managed to instil in the Lions professionalism, desire and courage to take the game to even higher-ranked opponents.

This is an approach the like-minded Lee has seamlessly continued with, despite a global search for a full-time replacement in the background.

Despite the worry that the 30-somethings – Izwan, Hariss, Shawal, Safuwan and Song – are over the hill and the younger players are not good enough, the blend of experience and youth somehow worked.

As usual, there were roller-coaster moments – having two goals disallowed in the 0-0 home draw against Hong Kong, hanging on for dear life in the scrappy 2-1 away win at Bangladesh, dropping two points because of a last-minute lapse of concentration in the 1-1 home draw against India, and then needing to come from behind to beat India and Hong Kong 2-1 away.

But this time, there was not to be the nauseating feeling from a sickening defeat. Instead, a million-dollar bonus awaits the Lions squad, with each player set to get at least $46,000.

More importantly, there is hope that this historic qualification for the continental showpiece can inspire future generations of Singapore footballers to go on to greater heights and more of their compatriots to support them.

More than 2,600km away, around 500 fans filled the Festive Plaza at Our Tampines Hub with cheers during the watch party.

Callum Pereira, 26, said: “I’m feeling good just watching the boys get out there and do their thing. They were working hard, and it makes me proud to be Singaporean. Seeing everybody stand up and sing the national anthem so proudly was a good reminder of what it means to be Singaporean.”

Basil Lee, 25, said: “Growing up, we felt the Singapore team were really good but somehow along the way, we lost our mojo and lost our way, and it’s been disappointment after disappointment. But now, qualifying for this Asian Cup is a massive thing that will inspire a whole new generation of fans.”

On social media, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam led the tributes, thanking the Lions for making history and “for skilful team play and guts in front of an overwhelming home crowd at Kai Tak Stadium”.

Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo also paid tribute to the team.

He wrote: “Over the past five matches, our Lions were all heart. To Singapore fans everywhere, let’s give our Lions the fullest support in our road to Asian Cup!”