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Safuwan Baharudin of Singapore will be sent off during his team’s semi-final second leg in the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup against Indonesia at the National Stadium in Singapore on December 25, 2021. (Photo: CNA / Matthew Mohan)
SINGAPORE: They fought like lions on the pitch in the national stadium on Saturday (December 25th).
With their backs to the wall, faced with several questionable referee decisions, they stared into the abyss one defeat.
Tatsuma Yoshida’s team was eliminated from the AFF Suzuki Cup on Saturday (December 25th) after a 4-2 defeat against Indonesia in the second leg of the semi-finals.
Extra time from Irfan Jaya and Egy Maulana Vikri gave the away team a 5-3 aggregate victory and ensured that the search for the Lions ‘first Suzuki Cup title since 2012 would continue.
The Lions’ first leg on Wednesday ended 1-1 as one Ikhsan Fandi’s equalizer pushed the Indonesians back.
However, with Yoshida making several changes, Ikhsan began the game for the second leg for a different-looking team from Singapore on the bench.
In his place was the Geylang International striker Amy Recha, which made its first start in Singapore. Faris Ramli was also thrown on the bench, Hafiz Nor started for the Lions.
In the 11th minute, the Indonesians took the lead when a pass from Hassan Sunny was intercepted by Witan. He fought off two defenders and found Ezra Walian to kick off.
Four minutes later they almost doubled their lead, but Pratama Rifai could only step up his efforts.
Singapore struggled to gain a foothold in the game, with a series of bad passes giving impetus to the ever-rushing Indonesian team on multiple occasions.
The Lions’ best chance came with a lungbreaking run by Song-Ui Young who found Hafiz Nor, but his shot was blocked at the gate.
Amy Recha then looked like he’d gone down in the penalty area when he was about to rebound, but vehement appeals from Singapore were dismissed.
Then came a flash point. Defender Safuwan Baharudin, who had previously received a soft yellow card from referee Qasim Matar Ali Al Hatmi, was cautioned again and sent off in front of a corner kick after a wrestling match in the penalty area.
But the Lions kept their nerve and equalized, and Song shot home in stoppage time to the delight of the Singapore fans.
Indonesia built up the pressure in the second half and bounced off the crossbar in the 59th minute.
And it was Shawal who Almost immediately scored a minute after coming on, but his dip shot went just wide.
Defender Irfan Fandi received his marching orders 67 minutes after he pulled Irfan Jaya down towards goal had. The referee believed the Singapore defender had denied a clear scoring opportunity.
But shortly thereafter, Singapore midfielder Shahdan thought he had won the game when he shot a beautiful free kick past the Indonesian goalkeeper to give Singapore the lead
But Indonesia wasn’t done yet and equalized four minutes from time thanks to Pratama Arhan.
With the game on the line, Faris had a chance of a famous win, but his penalty was taken by the Indonesian Keeper Nadeo Winata pushed away.
Then the tide came for the Indonesians with only one minute in overtime. When Irfan Jaya tried to force the ball over the line, it bounced off Shawal into the goal.
Indonesia would have almost increased its lead on several occasions had it not been for the excellent work of Hassan Sunny from Singapore. </ P Substitute Egy then doubled the Indonesians' lead just before the first half of extra time and sealed the victory.
Hassan received his marching orders as time passed as the Lions fell to eight.
Despite the loss said the recognition of the audience for the dejected team at the full-time whistle everything.
Singapore may accept a defeat, but they roared on a pulsating Christmas night in the national stadium.
Experience the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 LIVE on meWATCH. Register now at mewatch.sg/affsuzukicup2020 and get into the action with Mediacorp, Singapore’s official broadcaster for the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup.
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