http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=213551&cc=4716
SINGAPORE, January 31 (Asean Football Championship) - Singapore
ended their long winless streak against Thailand, grabbing a
controversial 2-1 win in the first leg of the Asean Football
Championship final at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
The Lions had not beaten the Thais in a competitive match since
1977 but a second half penalty by Mustafic Fahruddin settled the
match in favour of the home side.
The penalty was awarded after Noh Alam Shah went down in the Thai
box under challenge from Niweat Siriwong and sparked a furious
reaction from the Thais who walked off the pitch for 15 minutes
before finally being convinced to return.
Alam Shah had earlier opened the scoring for Singapore with his
10th goal of the tournament in the 17th minute but the Thais got
back on level terms five minutes after the break when a superb
through ball released Pipat Thonkanya, who rounded goalkeeper
Lionel Lewis to equalise.
The return leg will be played at the Supachalasai Stadium in
Bangkok on Sunday.
As expected, Thai skipper Kiatisuk Senamuang was ruled out by a
knee injury and replaced by Pipat, while Singapore made three
changes with captain Aide Iskandar returning from suspension to
replace Baihakki Khaizan in central defence, while Mohamed Noh
Rahman and Fazrul Nawaz came in for Isa Halim and the injured Hafiz
Osman.
A capacity crowd of 55,000 was present for what was likely to be
the final competitive match at the National Stadium and the
majority were on their feet after 17 minutes when the home side
took the lead.
The ball was played to Indra Sahdan, whose effort was blocked by
Niweat Siriwong and deflected outside the box to Mustafic
Fahruddin.
Fahruddin's shot was poor but fell nicely at the feet of Alam Shah,
who controlled the ball with his back to goal before turning and
firing a right-footed shot into the lower left hand corner of the
Thai goal.
Apart from that one bright moment, the opening half was a frantic
and physical affair which saw four players booked by Malaysian
referee C.Ravichandran - Nirut Surasiang for Thailand and Fazrul
Nawaz, Fahruddin and Muhammad Ridhuan for Singapore.
Two minutes into the second half, Singapore had an opportunity to
extend their lead when the ball was lofted into the box to Fazrul,
who was denied a shot by a brave challenge by Thai goalkeeper
Kittisak Rawangpa.
On 50 minutes, the Thais were back on level terms with virtually
their first opening of the game after a superb through ball by
Nirut caught the Singapore defence square, releasing Pipat.
The Thai forward coolly rounded goalkeeper Lionel Lewis before
slotting the ball into the unguarded net for the equaliser.
Singapore had a good shout for a penalty in the 56th minute when
Khairul Amri was pulled back by Jetsada Jitsawad in the Thai box
but referee Ravichandran was not interested.
Buoyed by their equaliser, the Thais proved far more effective in
attack and Nirut went close with a long-range drive from 30 metres
that was nervously pushed out for a corner by Lewis.
The Thais stepped up the pressure and had chances to take the lead
with Pipat scooping the ball over the crossbar following a corner
in the 75th minute and Datsakorn firing in another long range
effort two minutes later which was kept out by a flying save by
Lewis.
The match was plunged into controversy in the 82nd minute when
referee C.Ravichandran pointed to the spot after Alam Shah tumbled
in the box under challenge from Niweat.
The Thais protested by walking off the pitch in protest and refused
to return for 15 minutes.
Thai team manager Thavatchai Sajakul spent several minutes
discussing the matter with match commissioner Mohamad Ameen before
finally convincing his team to return.
When the action finally resumed, Fahruddin kept his cool to fire
the ball into the top right corner of the Thai net.
With seconds remaining, Singapore's Shi Jia Yi crossed into the box
but Amri failed to get his header on target.
