Singapore rue loss in concentration in 1-1 draw against India in Asian Cup qualifying setback

SINGAPORE – The Lions are angry, frustrated, hurt and disappointed.

And understandably so, after the way they took the lead and dominated their Asian Cup qualifier against 10-man India who barely had a shot on target at the National Stadium on Oct 9, but came away with just a point after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser.

The Group C 1-1 draw is seen as a considerable setback to their dream of a maiden Asian Cup qualification ahead of their next match against the same opponents in Goa on Oct 14.

With their five points from three games – following a goal-less home draw against Hong Kong in March and a 2-1 victory in Bangladesh in June – the Lions are second, two points behind Hong Kong, who took over top spot after winning 4-3 in Bangladesh on Oct 9.

Only the six group winners of the third round of qualifiers will join 18 other teams who have already advanced to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Singapore skipper Hariss Harun said: “It’s disappointing to concede towards the end of the game.

“We had control for most of the match, but it was our own undoing. We took our foot off the pedal, especially when they went down to 10 men when we should have gone on and seized the initiative. We had chances to put the game away, but you get punished when you don’t do that.

“Moving forward, it’s quite apparent what we need to improve on – turn our domination and our chances into goals, cut out the mistakes and control the game until the final whistle because at this level, mistakes are going to be pounced on.”

Largely in control in front of 13,232 fans at the National Stadium, Singapore deservedly took the lead in the first minute of first-half added time when Shawal Anuar stole behind Uvais Moyikkal to brilliantly take down Hariss’ long lofted pass before Ikhsan Fandi swept home his 22nd international goal on his 43rd appearance.

The dismissal of Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan in the 47th minute for a second yellow card further handed the advantage to the hosts.

But after surviving several Singapore attempts at a second goal, it was the visitors who pulled off a grand heist towards the end when substitute Rahim Ali profited from Jordan Emaviwe’s loose back pass to equalise in the 90th minute.

While Izwan Mahbud did well to get to the ball first, his sliding clearance cannoned off the Indian forward who was left with an open goal.

The goalkeeper told The Straits Times: “We are very angry and pissed because we could have gone away with three points. We have to blame ourselves, but also get back to the drawing board and regroup, recover and go for the next game.”

It was not just Emaviwe’s back pass that cost them two points, as fellow substitute Ilhan Fandi missed a clutch of gilt-edged opportunities after replacing his older brother Ikhsan in the 69th minute.

Three minutes later, the 22-year-old blasted over with his left foot and then saw a right-footed attempt blocked by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in a one-on-one situation. He would also fail to connect with a tantalising Kyoga Nakamura cross in the 85th minute.

Ilhan told ST: “I feel very disappointed because I should have scored. I take full responsibility because I should have made it 2-0 and killed the game, and it’s a big miss.

“I’ll just have to keep on working hard because I know I can do it. As a team, we have to bounce back because there’s another game in India which we have to win.”

Lapses have cost the Lions dear before and interim national coach Gavin Lee needs his team to put their words into action as he now has to pick up the broken confidence of the sobbing Emaviwe, who slinked past the mixed zone looking disconsolate in a hoodie, and sweat over the fitness of key centre back Safuwan Baharudin.

Post-match, Lee said: “We didn’t take further advantage of the extra man we had and unfortunately we allowed one action to determine the outcome and gloss over all the positive stuff that we did today. There were very good moments on many phases, but again we didn’t make it count at the end.

“The boys are hurting for sure, but we will go to Goa with extra fuel in our tank. From tonight, we know what we are capable of. The thing is, can we go out there and make sure we do it for 95 minutes this time?

“The window is not over. Ultimately, this is a fantastic test of our character as a team. If we think we are better than tonight’s result, our job is to go out there and prove it in more difficult conditions, to rise up to the challenge and show everybody who we are.”

Meanwhile, India will also miss their most experienced player Jhingan, after the 70-cap defender collected both yellow cards for fouls on Ikhsan.

Coach Khalid Jamil said: “We played better in the second half and deserved to have the goal because if you work hard, you will be more lucky. To play away with 10 men and get a point, it is to our advantage and we must continue with this confidence.

“Singapore are energetic, they are a good team and they know they have lost two points here, so they will be more prepared for the next game. We will play on home ground and must also prepare very well. Sandesh is our most important player... and we have to find another solution.”