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21-12-2024, 03:32 PM
Dogged defensive display enough for Spore to reach ASEAN Championship semifinals at Malaysia's expense. Football dogged defensive display put Singapore to reach ASEAN Championship semifinals at Malaysia's expense
Singapore are through to the semifinals of the 2024 ASEAN Championship after a 0-0 draw with Malaysia saw them advance as Group A runners-up at the expense of their fierce rivals.
And it was extremely nervy. Hearts were in mouths several times throughout the 90 minutes. Ultimately, a dogged defensive display by Singapore -- in the intimidating away venue that is Bukit Jalil National Stadium -- reaped a 0-0 draw against bitter rivals Malaysia that was enough to see them return to the semifinals of the ASEAN Championship for the first time since the 2020 edition.
The result ensured Singapore stayed inside the top two at the conclusion of the Group A action, meaning it is them that will be joining defending champions Thailand in marching on into the last four. Even though Lions coach Tsutomu Ogura had spoke of danger in heading into the game playing for a draw, it was apparent from opening whistle that his side were not going to take any unnecessary risks. Now permanently a defender by trade, Nazrul Nazari was employed as a defensive right winger, while Shahdan Sulaiman was introduced to the starting XI as a deep-lying playmaker to allow more energetic duo of Shah Shahiran & Hami Syahin to press high.
The return from club duty of centre-back Safuwan Baharudin was a huge boost for S'pore, the decision to start with the more defensive-minded Irfan Najeeb & Amirul Adli highlighted conservative approach the visitors were prioritising. It worked much of 1st half. M'sia were applying pressure but S'pore were largely able to keep that at bay without too much of a scare. Yet, there is only so much defending a team can do de4 really coming under the pump - the introduction of Paulo Josué got M'sia looking much more dangerous. A freekick from naturalised Brazilian-born playmaker was spilled by Izwan Mahbud & had to be desperately cleared away be4 any Malaysian player could pounce. Moments later, Josué outjumped Izwan to send a header off the bar - with a follow-up effort from Harith Haiqal deflected wide right on the goal-line by a defending S'pore player who had not known too much about it but was in the right place at the right time...
https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/story/_/i...ia-expense
Singapore are through to the semifinals of the 2024 ASEAN Championship after a 0-0 draw with Malaysia saw them advance as Group A runners-up at the expense of their fierce rivals.
And it was extremely nervy. Hearts were in mouths several times throughout the 90 minutes. Ultimately, a dogged defensive display by Singapore -- in the intimidating away venue that is Bukit Jalil National Stadium -- reaped a 0-0 draw against bitter rivals Malaysia that was enough to see them return to the semifinals of the ASEAN Championship for the first time since the 2020 edition.
The result ensured Singapore stayed inside the top two at the conclusion of the Group A action, meaning it is them that will be joining defending champions Thailand in marching on into the last four. Even though Lions coach Tsutomu Ogura had spoke of danger in heading into the game playing for a draw, it was apparent from opening whistle that his side were not going to take any unnecessary risks. Now permanently a defender by trade, Nazrul Nazari was employed as a defensive right winger, while Shahdan Sulaiman was introduced to the starting XI as a deep-lying playmaker to allow more energetic duo of Shah Shahiran & Hami Syahin to press high.
The return from club duty of centre-back Safuwan Baharudin was a huge boost for S'pore, the decision to start with the more defensive-minded Irfan Najeeb & Amirul Adli highlighted conservative approach the visitors were prioritising. It worked much of 1st half. M'sia were applying pressure but S'pore were largely able to keep that at bay without too much of a scare. Yet, there is only so much defending a team can do de4 really coming under the pump - the introduction of Paulo Josué got M'sia looking much more dangerous. A freekick from naturalised Brazilian-born playmaker was spilled by Izwan Mahbud & had to be desperately cleared away be4 any Malaysian player could pounce. Moments later, Josué outjumped Izwan to send a header off the bar - with a follow-up effort from Harith Haiqal deflected wide right on the goal-line by a defending S'pore player who had not known too much about it but was in the right place at the right time...
https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/story/_/i...ia-expense
