Singapore media sighs: Hope of reaching the AFF Cup final is too slim!’

Painful loss of the Singapore team

The AFF Cup 2024 semi-final first leg between Singapore and the Vietnamese team was tense and fierce before being decided by 2 goals from Tien Linh and Xuan Son in the final minutes of extra time 90+11 and 90+ 14.

This caused writer David Lee to lament at the beginning of the article on The Straits Times: “The Lions (Singapore team’s nickname) suffered a painful blow on Boxing Day when they conceded a goal from penalty in the 90+11 minute, before being knocked out in the 90+14 minute”.

We can understand the feelings of regret and despair of writer David Lee, when the Singapore team entered the game well, exerting strong pressure in the first 60 minutes before the situation on the field completely reversed when Tien Linh appeared. , helping coach Kim Sang-sik and his team regain the match.

The chances of the final are slim

This was a match where VAR worked hard, denying Xuan Son’s beautiful goal in the 88th minute because the error was determined to be handball, after ignoring the collision between Ho Tan Tai and Faris where the referee was standing. Very close and has a favorable angle.

Also in the article, the author expressed surprise when hearing the pre-match coordination meeting confirm that Nakamura was suspended after receiving 2 yellow cards – unlike the update from the AFF tournament website (in fact he He received a yellow card in two matches against Malaysia and Thailand).

Sheet The Straits Times I’m proud that the Singapore team played impressively with Lionel Tan causing many difficulties for Xuan Son, or Safuwan Baharudin’s rhythmic attack, but they all gave up after losing 2 consecutive goals to the Vietnamese team at the end. battle.

“Then there was chaos in extra time, and now Singapore’s hopes of reaching the 5th AFF Cup final are fading,” admitted David Lee.