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SINGAPORE — When Singapore and the Philippines final met within the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup in December final 12 months, they performed out a bruising conflict which the Lions held on grimly to eke out a 2-1 win.
On Tuesday (29 March), the 2 sides confronted one another once more within the FAS Tri-Nations Collection pleasant event on the identical venue – the Nationwide Stadium – and this time, it was a extra benign affair because the Lions eased to a 2-0 win towards the Filipinos, who had been sadly decimated by a COVID-19 outbreak within the squad and had been capable of swimsuit up solely 4 substitutes.
Safuwan Baharudin’s bullet header and Shawal Anuar’s late aim sealed the win for the hosts, who had additionally overwhelmed arch-rivals Malaysia 2-1 of their different Tri-Nations match final Saturday.
Interim head coach Nazri Nasir, main the Lions following the departure of Tatsuma Yoshida after the Suzuki Cup, praised his prices for performing nicely with solely a brief interval of preparation with him.
“I had solely 4, 5 days with the staff, and what I might do was solely to play to the strengths of every participant,” the previous nationwide captain stated after the match. “A few of them weren’t enjoying of their ordinary positions, however I can see all of them loved themselves in the course of the two matches.
“I am comfortable and I am proud, getting these wins means loads to me.”
In contrast to towards the Malaysians – when the Lions had been below fixed stress for the opening 20 minutes – they had been capable of quiet down way more rapidly towards the Filipinos, and had been duly rewarded for his or her higher management with the opening aim after simply 10 minutes.
It was a tried-and-tested routine that paid off once more, as dead-ball specialist Shahdan Sulaiman delivered an out-swinging nook from the proper, and it discovered its favorite goal – Safuwan. The veteran defender and well-known aerial risk was one way or the other left unmarked as he headed powerfully dwelling.
With the early aim, the Lions started stroking the ball round with confidence, as forwards Ikhsan Fandi and Amy Recha darted round looking for areas for scoring probabilities. Nevertheless, Filipino goalkeeper Neil Etheridge – who performs for English Championship facet Birmingham Metropolis – held agency amid the Lions stress.
On the opposite finish of the pitch, Hassan Sunny might rely his fortunate stars within the 18th minute as Bienvenido Maranon’s stinging shot cannoned of the proper submit to the Filipino striker’s dismay.
The match was chugging alongside at a much more languid tempo than their bruising conflict in December, but it surely out of the blue exploded right into a sending-off within the fortieth minute. Filipino defender Diego Bardanca, who had been booked simply minutes earlier than after a late sort out on Recha, once more went in late on Lions captain Hariss Harun, leaving referee Ahmad A’Qashah with little possibility however to dismiss him.
All the way down to 10 males, the Philippines appeared to have lastly regained their feistiness, and the strong challenges which littered their earlier encounter returned. One such problem noticed the Lions given a free kick on the stroke of half-time, however Shahdan’s excellent try rattled the crossbar to the loud groans of the followers.
After the eventful first half, nevertheless, the second half rapidly fizzled out right into a tame affair with all of the depth of a coaching match. With a person quick, the Philippines had been content material to maintain their inflexible defensive form to frustrate the Lions, who had been equally content material in conserving their one-goal benefit.
However the 9,183-strong followers had been lastly despatched dwelling in excessive spirits, as Shawal latched onto an excellent lengthy go by Hariss to fit dwelling the Lions’ second aim within the ninetieth minute.
Even with out a everlasting head coach, the Lions proceed to be on the right track as they search to flee the doldrums of the final decade.
As Safuwan stated after the sport, “Hopefully we’ll know quickly who might be main us for the video games in June, however in the meantime as gamers we now have to imagine in each other, imagine in coach Nazri, and we’ll attempt to preserve our momentum and preserve progressing.”
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