Singapore exited the FIFA ASEAN Cup in devastating fashion on Oct. 1, suffering a 6-0 defeat to Causeway rivals Malaysia at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung.
Match Dominated by Malaysia and Bergson Hat-Trick
The do-or-die Group A fixture swung firmly in Malaysia’s favor after just eight minutes. South Korean referee Kim Jong-hyeok awarded a penalty following a pitch-side monitor review when Singapore full-back Ryhan Stewart pulled Fergus Tierney down inside the box. Brazil-born striker Bergson da Silva slammed the resulting spot-kick down the middle past goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud.
Singapore nearly equalized in the 14th minute when Glenn Kweh’s flick-on put Song Ui-young through on goal, but the South Korea-born midfielder fired straight at Malaysian custodian Ahmad Syihan Hazmi from point-blank range. Malaysia doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Stuart Wilkin tapped home after Manuel Hidalgo beat three defenders down the left flank.
Needing goals to overhaul Indonesia for top spot in the group, Malaysia piled on the pressure in the final 30 minutes. Bergson added his second in the 62nd minute by finishing an inviting cross from Arif Aiman. Substitutes Paulo Josue and Syahir Bashah scored in the 76th and 86th minutes, respectively, before Bergson completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to seal the 6-0 scoreline.
Indonesia Wins Group A to Reach the Final
Despite the emphatic six-goal victory, Malaysia missed out on a place in the tournament final. Harimau Malaya finished level on seven points with Indonesia at the summit of Group A, but Indonesia claimed first place on goals scored after thrashing Bangladesh 9-2 in Jakarta. Malaysia finished second in the group and advanced to the Division 1 third-place play-off against Vietnam on Oct. 5, while Indonesia booked a spot in the final against Group B winners Thailand.
Singapore ended their campaign in third place in Group A with three points, having previously opened with a 2-0 loss to Indonesia and a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh courtesy of a Harhys Stewart header. Bangladesh finished at the bottom of the group without a point.
Reactions from Coach Gavin Lee and Tan Cheng Hoe
On the opposing side, Tan Cheng Hoe expressed pride in the historic scoreline coupled with frustration over missing out on the final. “As a coach, I feel proud with the result that we scored, creating history that we beat Singapore by a big scoreline,” Tan said. “Of course, at the same time, we are a little bit sad that we didn’t qualify for the final.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Group A Decider
- When and where did the match take place?
- The fixture was played on Oct. 1 at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, kicking off at 8:30 pm Singapore time.
- How did Singapore reach this decisive match?
- The 148th-ranked Lions entered the fixture with three points from their opening two games, following a 2-0 defeat to Indonesia and a 1-0 win over Bangladesh secured by Harhys Stewart.
- Who will Malaysia face next in the tournament?
- Malaysia will play against Vietnam in the Division 1 third-place play-off scheduled for Oct. 5.
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