Singapore re-ignite title hopes with Bangladesh win

Singapore have kept their FIFA ASEAN Cup™ title hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Bangladesh in Jakarta.

In a clash of nations that had lost their opening fixtures, it was a powerful first-half header from Harhys Stewart that secured maximum points for the Lions.

While Singapore’s title hopes remain alive, defeat here sees Bangladesh’s hanging by a thread, ahead of their group closer with Indonesia on 1 October.

FIFA ASEAN Cup | Group A

Singapore 1-0 Bangladesh

Singapore goal: Harhys Stewart (35)

Gavin Lee made two changes for his Singapore side, while Bangladesh made four, ahead of what was a must-win encounter in Java.

It was the Lions that set the early tempo, and after a fingertip save from Mehedi Hasan Srabon had denied Ikhsan Fandi, they went ahead late in the opening stanza. It was a goal scripted by buccaneering full-back Nur Adam Abdullah who strode forward down the left and crossed for Harhys Stewart to pilot a header past Srabon.

The Bangladesh No1 was keeping his nation in the contest and pulled off another fine save to deny Shah Shahiran early in the second half before the South Asian nation had a chance of their own as New York Cosmos striker Shamit Shome pushed a header narrowly wide.

The narrow win now moves Singapore right back into title contention ahead of a group closing clash with Malaysia on 1 October.