Football: Singapore lose 4-2 to Thailand, must avoid defeat against Malaysia to reach ASEAN Championship semis

SINGAPORE: Two stoppage time goals consigned Singapore to a 2-4 defeat to Thailand in their penultimate ASEAN football championship group fixture on Tuesday (Dec 17) but the Lions remain in the running to reach the tournament semi-finals.

At the National Stadium, goals from Shawal Anuar and Faris Ramli gave Tsutomu Ogura's men a shock lead in the first 45.

Patrik Gustavsson reduced the arrears before a second half goal from Suphanat Mueanta and stoppage time strikes from Peeradon Chamratsamee and Teerasak Poeiphimai ensured the Thais three points.

The win sealed the defending champions' progression to the next round. 

The last time Singapore beat Thailand was a 3-1 home victory in 2012 on the way to lifting the trophy. The Lions have not won the tournament since.

The Lions are ranked 161st in the FIFA world rankings, while the Thais are 97th.

The Thais now top Group A with three wins from three games while Tsutomu Ogura's Singapore sit second with six points. Cambodia and Malaysia have four points.

The Lions will travel to Malaysia to face their Causeway rivals at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 20.

A win or a draw will be enough for Singapore to progress, but a loss will mean that Malaysia will move on instead.

The Lions last made the semi-finals of the regional tournament in 2021, where they were eliminated by Indonesia.

Singapore began their campaign last Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Cambodia at the National Stadium.

A pair of first-half goals from Faris and Shawal gave Singapore three points against the plucky away side, who had outplayed the Lions for most of the game.

They then left it late to beat Timor-Leste 3-0 at the Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi, with a penalty from Kyoga Nakamura and second half double from