JAKARTA: To silence Jakarta's rowdy and notorious Gelora Bung Karno Stadium is no mean feat but the Lions turned to the M word: Motivation.

Singapore topped Group A of the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup yesterday, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Indonesia on the Garudas' home patch.

To the fore came three players - Isa Halim, Baihakki Khaizan and Agu Casmir. One was fighting to earn his place, one was trying to break a duck, and the third was trying to silence the boo boys.

All succeeded and played key roles in a win that stretched Raddy Avramovic's unbeaten run in the biennial regional tournament to 18 matches.

A Baihakki header after three minutes and a Shi Jiayi free kick five minutes after the break gave Singapore three wins out of three at the Suzuki Cup.

With holding midfielder Mustafic Fahrudin on a yellow card, Avramovic was reluctant to risk his regular enforcer with the threat of suspension looming if he should pick up another caution against Indonesia.

In came Isa, 22, whose work-rate, aggression and crisp distribution prompted Avramovic to say that he did a 'big job considering that it was his first start for Singapore in months'.

Isa, who plays for S-League club the Young Lions, said: 'My job became even more difficult when I was booked after just 23 minutes. It's too early for a yellow card and I felt a bit down but Raddy told me to cool down and encouraged me.

'I was motivated by my coach's words. I timed my tackles better and surprised myself by finishing the match even though I'm short of fitness.'

Baihakki, with just one goal in his previous 62 international games, put his 1.89m frame to good use, rising high to nod home John Wilkinson's free kick in front of an estimated 50,000 crowd.

The centre-back, who also made a string of important interceptions, recalled: 'During training, Raddy would ask why am I not scoring from set-pieces.

'I turned his words into something positive. And I'm delighted with the goal, not to prove Raddy wrong, but because I did my part in the team's victory.'

While the Lions celebrated their courageous win, Indonesia coach Benny Dolo was left perplexed by the result.

He said: 'We controlled the game. We had more than 60 per cent of the possession. Yet, Singapore had two set-pieces and scored twice.'

However, the win was also marred by the abuse dished out to Casmir, who is unpopular with the Jakmania, made up of hard-core supporters of Indonesian club Persija.

The group is still unhappy that Casmir ran away with a US$20,000 (S$30,500) signing fee from Persija in 2005 and never played for the team.

Singapore's leading scorer for this tournament with four goals was subjected to a crescendo of boos. Monkey chants could also be heard.

Defender Precious Emuejeraye, a fellow Nigeria-born citizen, said: 'I told Agu to ignore the racial abuse.

'Even famous African players like Samuel Eto'o get such treatment too. I told Agu that the best way to answer them is by winning the match.'

Casmir did not want to comment on the abuse he took from the home fans.

He simply said: 'We won the game. That's all I want to say.'

meng@sph.com.sg