Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Singapore advanced to the third round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the expense of neighbours Malaysia after the second installment of the second round clash between the Lions and Tigers ended 1-1.
The first leg in Singapore was a thrilling affair that ended 5-3 in favour of the home side and while Thursday's return fixture at the sold out Bukit Jalil Stadium lacked the goals it was another entertaining edition of the 'causeway derby'.
After a goalless first-half skipper Safa Sali, who was accountable for two of Malaysia's three strikes at the Jalan Besar Stadium five days ago, gave the home side hope when he broke the deadlock with a sweetly-struck drive in the 58th minute.
But 15 minutes later Singapore restored parity on the night through the industrious Shi Jiayi, a first-leg scorer for the Lions, as the World Cup hopes of the reigning ASEAN champions began to ebb away.
Things ended on a low point for Malaysia when substitute Ahmad bin Saarani was sent off in stoppage time after picking up a second yellow card after having previously entered referee Hiroyoshi Takahama's notebook in the 83rd minute.
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