AFF Suzuki Cup: Defending champs Singapore go down 1–2 to late Thai penalty

Story by Colin Tung/Red Sports. Photos by Joseph Lee and Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

Khairul Amri (#19) of Singapore wheels away in delight after scoring the equalising goal for Singapore in the 20th minute, before Thailand struck at the death with a penalty through Charyl Yannic Chappuis to win the match 1–2. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

National Stadium, Sunday, November 23, 2014 — Thailand’s Swiss-born midfielder Charyl Yannic Chappuis scored an 87th minute penalty to deal defending champions Singapore a 1–2 loss in front of an official crowd of 32,148. It was an evenly-contested match between two of the ASEAN Football Championship (AFF Suzuki Cup)’s most successful teams.

Thailand took the lead in the eighth minute of the game when a throw-in released Prakit Deeprom down the left wing. The Thai took one touch to control the ball before sending a quick, low cross into the box, behind the Singapore defence.

Thai striker Mongkol Thosakrai arrived at the far post to smash the ball past Singapore goalkeeper and 2014 S.League Player of the Year Hassan Sunny, who had little time to react.

Singapore equalised in the 20th minute when Khairul Amri converted a cross by left back Shaiful Esah. Dropping off the shoulder of the last Thai defender into the middle of the penalty box just as the cross was swung, he headed the ball past Thai goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan.

Singapore emerged for the second half with a tactical shuffle. Baihakki Khaizan, who had sparked fears of a second yellow card and an automatic sending off after a tackle late in the first half, made way for Zulfahmi Arifin.

Zulfahmi, a left-footed midfielder, took up Hariss Harun’s central midfield position alongside Shahdan Sulaiman. In turn, Hariss dropped into central defence alongside Safuwan Baharudin.

Thailand dominated possession as Singapore sought to find chances on the break.

Shahril Ishak had a good chance to put Singapore ahead in the 62nd minute when Shahdan Sulaiman aimed a ball from left midfield into his captain’s body. Shahril, with his back to goal and near the penalty spot, swung around to shoot but scuffed the ball as the chance went begging.

In the 87th minute, Iranian referee Faghani Alireza Mohammad awarded a penalty to Thailand after Safuwan Baharudin was adjudged to have blocked a cross from Chappuis with his hand.

The Thai No. 7 stepped up to take the penalty amidst efforts by the Singaporean crowd to put him off with boos. He despatched it to the bottom left corner, beyond Hassan Sunny’s reach, to put his team 1–2 ahead.

Thailand held out for the win and now top a group Singapore head coach Bernd Stange called the ‘Group of Death’ after the first round of matches. The group also includes 2010 champions Malaysia and a Myanmar team helmed by Raddy Avramovic, the former Singapore head coach and also the most successful coach in the history of the ASEAN Football Championship with three title wins.

At the post-match press conference, Stange said, “We started the game with a Christmas present, in the ninth minute, four weeks before Christmas. And it’s very very difficult to come back against a team like Thailand, but we did it and it was amazing to see how our team was performing till the very end. Finally, it was an unlucky defeat, very unlucky. I think we deserved a draw.

“It’s a long tournament. It’s nothing wrong now. The pressure is a little bit higher for us because we have to win the next two matches …. The tournament is not over. It starts now and we have a defeat, and we have Myanmar and we have a derby with Malaysia (coming up). Great football is coming and we need our fans.”

In the night’s other group match, Malaysia and Myanmar played out a 0–0 draw at the Jalan Besar stadium.

Singapore Lineup
Hassan Sunny (goalkeeper), Shaiful Esah (Shakir Hamzah 62′), Baihakki Khaizan (Zulfahmi Arifin 45′), Safuwan Baharudin, Ismadi Mukhtar, Faris Ramli, Shahdan Sulaiman, Shahril Ishak (captain), Khairul Amri, Sahil Suhaimi (Gabriel Quak 85′)

Thailand Lineup
Kawin Thamasatchanan (captain, goalkeeper), Perapat Notechaiya, Praweenwat Boonyong (Suttinun Phukhom 75′), Kroekrit Thawikan, Sarach Yooyen, Charyl Yannic Chappuis, Atit Daosawang, Kirati Keawsombut (Chanathip Songkrasin 66′), Mongkol Thosakrai, Prakit Deeprom (Adisak Kraison 61′), Adison Promrak

 Loading ...

 Loading ...

More photos next page