Sunday, January 28, 2007

Singapore reach ASEAN final on penalty kicks
SINGAPORE, January 27 (Asean Football Championship) - Defending champions Singapore advanced to the final of the Asean Football Championship after defeating arch-rivals Malaysia in a tense penalty shootout. With the aggregate score tied at 2-2 after extra time, the match went to the shootout with Singapore goalkeeper Lionel Lewis emerging as the hero, stopping Khyril Muhymeen's weak attempt to give the home side a 5-4 victory.

Malaysia had taken the lead in the game in the 57th minute after Eddy Helmi's shot was fumbled by Lewis, but Muhammad Ridhuan levelled the score with 15 minutes remaining to force the match into extra time and penalties.

Roared on by a capacity crowd of 55,000, the home side dominated the opening half but created few clear-cut openings against Malaysia's well-organised back line. Shi Jia Yi went close to giving the Lions the lead in the ninth minute when he caught the Malaysian defence and goalkeeper Mohamad Syamsuri by surprise with a free kick from the right of the Malaysian box that went just over the crossbar. Noh Alam Shah nearly bagged his 10th goal in five games on the half-hour after being sent clear by Ridhuan's quick pass but the close attention of Mohammed Khaironisam managed to put off the Singapore striker and his weak shot failed to seriously test Syamsuri.

Malaysia offered little in the opening half but could have taken the lead against the run of play on 37 minutes when an excellent through ball by K.Nanthakumar sent Hairuddin Omar clear from the halfway line. The Malaysian striker appeared to have a clear run on goal but right back Daniel Bennett made up enough ground to block the shot with Shukor Adan, following up, ballooning the ball over the unguarded Singapore net.

Singapore turned up the pressure at the start of the second half and Khaironisam had to be alert to cut off a cross by Bennett just before it could reach Alam Shah on 47 minutes.
Singapore were in the ascendancy but were caught out by a sucker punch on 57 minutes when the ball fell to Eddy Helmi on the edge of the box. The Malaysian midfielder fired in a low shot that should have been easily handled by Lewis but the Singapore goalkeeper dived too early, allowing the ball to bounce over his sprawling body and bobble across the line to give Malaysia a 1-0 lead.

Singapore were facing their first defeat in the competition since a 4-0 hammering by the Malaysians at the same venue in December 2002 but they were back on level terms with 15 minutes remaining. Bennett's cross from the left flank was knocked down at the far post by Alam Shah into the path of a charging Ridhuan, who forced the ball in on the goal line past a flailing Syamsuri. With time running out, the hosts nearly grabbed a winner as Alam Shah's cross from the right was headed over by substitute Khairul Amri.

There were few chances of note in the first period of extra time but shortly after the restart, Malaysia nearly broke the deadlock when Shukor Adan got goalside of Baihakki Khaizan but Lewis made amends for his earlier error by smothering Adan's shot at his near post.
Singapore nearly found the target in the 110th minute when a goal-bound shot by Bennett was headed clear by Hairuddin Omar and five minutes later, Precious Emuerjeraye launched a fierce drive from 40 metres that was tipped over by Syamsuri.
With no further scoring, the match went to a shootout with Singapore making no mistakes as Indra Sahdan, Alam Shah, Mustafic Fahruddin, Fazrul Nawaz and Shi Jiayi all converted their attempts.
Malaysia's Hardi Jaafar, Rezal Zambery, Sanramsak Kram, and V.Thirumurugan also scored before Khyril Muhymeen saw his weak attempt saved by Lewis to send the defending champions through to the final.
Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic was a relieved figure after the defending champions reached the Asean Football Championship final, winning a tense penalty shootout against Malaysia in the second leg of the semi-finals.
Playing in front of a full house of 55,000, Singapore edged out their neighbours 5-4 in the shootout after a 1-1 draw on the night saw the tie finishing 2-2 on aggregate.
"In games like this, we must be prepared for everything," said Avramovic, whose Singapore side are unbeaten in 13 consecutive Asean Football Championship matches, stretching back to 2004.
"In the end, we needed extra time and ultimately, the decision came down to penalties, which was the hardest thing for both teams to take.
"I think it was a good even game between two well-matched teams but I think that today we got great support and it was nice to win this game, both for them (the supporters) and for us."
Avramovic was pleased with the contribution of custodian Lionel Lewis, who gifted Malaysia a second half goal after allowing an Eddy Helmi shot to bobble over his body, but stopped Khyril Muhymeen with the final spot kick of the shootout to give his side victory.
"That's part of life of being a goalkeeper that everyone sees their mistakes," said Avramovic, a former goalkeeper in the English top flight with Notts County and Coventry City.
"There are many mistakes that take place on the field during the game, sometimes finishing in goals and sometimes not. But he didn't lose his concentration and his will to win the game. He kept going and in the end, he won the game for us."
Norizan Bakar was reluctant to comment after his side's heartbreaking defeat but the Malaysia coach praised his charges for their courageous performance in front of the capacity crowd at the National Stadium.
"I think that the boys played their heart out tonight but this is football and it had to end up this way," the Malaysia coach said.
"You can plan things for the game but other things can happen during the course of it that can affect the outcome. I don't want to comment on every little incident in the game because I felt that my boys did their best and put up a brave effort, but congratulations to Singapore and I wish them the best in the final."