Singapore beat Laos 2-0 at AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup

SINGAPORE: Singapore beat Laos 2-0 on Tuesday (Dec 27) in the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

Irfan Fandi put the Lions ahead in the 32nd minute with a header off a Zulfahmi Arifin free kick, and Shawal Anuar settled the close match at National Stadium KM16 in the 94th minute after nicking the ball from Laos goalkeeper Keo-Oudone Souvannasangso.

The win is Singapore's second in as many matches, following last Saturday's 3-2 victory over Myanmar at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Laos' loss is their third in a row at the tournament, although their margin of defeat on Tuesday marked an improvement from their 6-0 loss to Vietnam and their 5-0 loss to Malaysia.

In the other game on Tuesday night, Vietnam beat Malaysia 3-0 at the My Dinh Stadium.

Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore have six points each, although Malaysia have played a game more. Vietnam top the group with a goal difference of nine after Tuesday's matches.

Singapore's next Mitsubishi Electric Cup match will be a clash with Vietnam at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night.

Laos, meanwhile, will wrap up their campaign with a match against Myanmar at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on the same day.

Singapore's final group-stage game will be a showdown with Malaysia at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 3, the same day that Vietnam and Myanmar face off in Hanoi.