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'Sloppy' Singapore fall to Philippines to cede advantage at AFF Suzuki Cup

Philippines striker Patrick Reichelt scores the only goal against Singapore in their AFF Suzuki Cup group-stage match on 13 November, 2018. (PHOTO: AFF Suzuki Cup)
Philippines striker Patrick Reichelt scores the only goal against Singapore in their AFF Suzuki Cup group-stage match on 13 November, 2018. (PHOTO: AFF Suzuki Cup)

The signs did not bode well for Singapore even though they had beaten Indonesia 1-0 in their last Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup group-stage match on Friday (9 November). Their attack lacked fluency, and they faded badly near the end of the match after pressing hard early in the game.

Their fitness levels and lack of a clinical touch in front of goal came back to haunt them as they ceded their group advantage in their next match on Tuesday, with hosts Philippines capitalising to score a late goal for a 1-0 victory in Bacolod.

“Sloppy” was how Lions coach Fandi Ahmad described the goal, as the Azkals’ Germany-born striker Patrick Reichelt took advantage of the tiring Singapore defence’s failure to clear a routine throw-in, and held off the attention of three players to slot the ball through goalkeeper Hassan Sunny’s legs in the 78th minute.

“From the throw-in, we allowed (the goal) to happen. We have to learn from this,” Fandi lamented after the match. “A draw would have been a fair result, and we are disappointed that we didn’t get a point.”

Hosts dominated possession with more shots on goal

He was right only in the first part of his assessment. Philippines dominated possession (60 per cent to 40 per cent), had more chances (six to four) and shots on goal (three to none), and fully deserved their victory.

Their newly-appointed head coach, former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, believes his side came through a tough match, but must continue improving.

The 70-year-old Swede said, “With this win, we are not done but it is much more easy to get out of the group. My expectation is to play a little bit more. There were lots of long balls, so we must try to improve.”

The statistic which will trouble Fandi was the big zero in their “shots on goal” category. His charges harried and pressed their opponents commendably, but when it came to finding a way through the Azkals’ formidable defence, they floundered with poor final passes and wayward shooting.

Lions’ mounting injury woes

Also worrying is the mounting injury list. Playmaker Faris Ramli was substituted in the 66th minute with a suspected hamstring injury, but his replacement – former captain Shahril Ishak – was himself stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder just six minutes later.

The result in Bacolod means that four of the five Group B teams are on three points, with Timor Leste bottom after two losses. Thailand are top after their 7-0 thrashing of Timor Leste on Friday, while Indonesia are second following a 3-1 win over the minnows on Tuesday. Philippines lie ahead of Singapore on goal difference, and have played a game fewer.

The Lions will need a strong offensive showing against Timor Leste at home next Wednesday (21 November) to get the goals to leapfrog over their rivals, so the pressure is on Fandi to find the right tactics for his misfiring players to regain their scoring touch.

He said, “There is no need to change much in the team, maybe a slight change to the formation. But we have to find those penetrating passes.”

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