AFF Suzuki Cup Final 1st Leg

Singapore 3-1 Thailand

It's advantage to Singapore as the hungrier looking Lions took a deserved 3-1 lead on the artificial pitch at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The opening exchanges saw Singapore take the game to Thailand and they took the lead on 9 minutes from a penalty kick. Piyapon clumsily manhandled Duric conceding a cheap spot kick which Fahrudin converted despite having to retake it.
Singapore continued to hold the upper hand with Thailand looking second best for most of the first half.
The Thais did improve after the interval and were rewarded on 59 minutes when Adul finished a move created by Teerasil.
The joy was shortly lived as Kharil Amri was allowed too much space to turn in the box to restore the Lions lead two minutes later. Jakkaphan then rattled the crossbar with a free kick shortly afterwards, but it was Singapore who had the last laugh on 90 minutes when Baihakki blasted the ball into the roof of the net after Thailand failed to clear a corner.
I won't argue that Singapore didn't deserve their 3-1 first leg lead. I will say that the second leg will be a different ball game as it will played in front of a passionate Thai crowd on real grass. You just have to wonder if that crucial third goal for Singapore will prove to be the decisive goal.