HONG KONG - Singapore Armed Forces put their AFC Cup campaign back on track with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Happy Valley at Mongkok Stadium on Tuesday evening.

After a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Mahindra United in their opening game of Group E, goals from Therdsak Chaiman, skipper Noor Ali and a double from Aleksandar Duric saw the Warriors bounce back in emphatic style.

Armed Forces took the lead after just seven minutes when Ashrin Shariff's shot was initially parried by goalkeeper Chun Yip Fan, but Therdsak followed in to give them an early advantage.

However, Happy Valley restored parity in the 22nd minute when Szeto Ming Lee latched on to Chun Bong Law's raking pass from the left and gave Sharil Jantan no chance in the Armed Forces' goal.

A free flowing move on the half hour mark nearly resulted in the home side retaking the lead in impressive fashion.

After a shot was charged down on the edge of the Happy Valley area, the ball broke to Fabio Alcantara.

A nice one-two saw the striker break down the right wing and his teasing cross to the back post was nodded across the face of goal. Vandre Sargillo Moteiro's instant control allowed him to turn his marker but the midfielder blasted his shot on the turn over the bar from six yards.

Happy Valley threatened again soon after and a beautiful ball out from the back found Wai Man Lee in acres of space down the right. The full back's floated cross found Chun unmarked on the penalty spot, but he could not make clean contact and sent the free header wide.

The second half started evenly with Happy Valley enjoying much of the possession but being unable to finish.

The visitors nearly retook the lead but Chun proved more than equal to a 25-yard drive from Noor Ali.

However, it proved a brief respite as, after the keeper had tipped a dangerous looking free kick around the post, the resulting corner saw Noor Ali rise highest to head the Warriors back in front after an hour.

That seemed to knock the fight out of the home side and it got worse after 75 minutes when Duric rammed the ball home from close range before banging in his second late on when a deep cross was cushioned across the six yard box by Noor Ali and the big forward finished with aplomb.

Happy Valley coach Kai Wah Lo conceded that his team deserved little from their clash with Singapore Armed Forces after a second half capitulation.

"I thought the scoreline reflected the performance of the team in the second half. The second goal was very crucial for Singapore, it was always going to decide the outcome of the game and they went on to win it,” said Kai.

"I'm disappointed about the missed chances at the end of the first half because the standard of football was very even and whichever side made the best of their chances would come out on top, and so it proved.”

"The first step is to pick the team up and then start looking ahead. We need to restore the players' confidence before we start thinking about qualification.

Singapore Armed Forces coach Kok Chun Bok said: "It was a very important win for us after our first game and put us right back on track. It's a big win and the team worked very hard. Happy Valley gave us a good game and I hope it was an entertaining game for the spectators."