Kuala Lumpur: A 0-0 draw with Malaysia has seen Singapore through to the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 semi-finals, earning the Lions the point they needed to finish as Group A runners-up.
At Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Friday, the Causeway Derby, one of the biggest rivalries in Southeast Asian football, was dominated by hosts Malaysia, racking up 15 shots throughout the 90 minutes, but were unable to find a breakthrough.
Singapore, having had to put up with a barrage of chances, and seen the ball bounce back off their own woodwork a couple of times, will perhaps be relieved with the point and clean sheet.
Both teams began assertively, perhaps more so Singapore who had a couple of half-looks at goal in the opening exchanges.
But Malaysia had the first real chance of the game with Endrick having a pop from outside the area on six minutes. It was a move that had come to fruition after Malaysia won the ball back high up the pitch.
A minute later, skipper Syamer Kutty Abba, who’d played the ball into Endrick for his shot, had a go himself but his effort was much tamer and didn’t trouble the goalkeeper.
Winning the ball back through a quick and aggressive press before having a go from distance became a bit of a theme for Malaysia. It was the Lions who needed to do the taming.
The Malayan Tigers had begun to bear their teeth, though, but despite a spell of sustained pressure, were unable to take the lead and it was getting to the point where they needed something to show for their efforts thus far. Singapore ventures forward had become less frequent.
Another good chase came in the 42nd minute with Haqimi Azim timing his run to perfection to latch onto an exquisite through-ball from Sergio Aguero. Haqimi attempted to guide the ball around the keeper and Daniel Ting tried to make sure it went over the line but some last-ditch defending meant it was still 0-0.
Malaysia had been the better side and were the team that really needed the win, but the first half ended goalless.
Malaysia started the second half with serious intent and had a couple of speculative shots through Endrick, including one from a free-kick, and had a couple of corners headed off the line.
Singapore, in a rare venture forward, came very close to breaking the deadlock on 54 minutes when Amirul Adli got on the end of a corner from the left but his header from six yards out went over.
Just shy of the hour mark Malaysia had a chance to test Mahbud with another free-kick, this time through Paulo Josue who’d come on as a substitute. His curled shot was spilled by the goalkeeper and Ting tried to follow up but the Lion City Sailors stopper’s goal remained unbreached.
The ball somehow stayed out a couple of minutes later when a Paulo Josue header crashed off the bar and Harith Haiqal’s follow-up hit the post. Malaysia hit the woodwork again on 68 minutes, this time through a Fergus Tierney header.
Still, Malaysia kept pushing to find that elusive goal but as the match ticked into the 90th minute, Malaysia goalkeeper Nadzli pulled off two superb saves, both from Ryhan Stewart shots.
It was a game that Malaysia dominated but simply could not get the result they needed and proved to be manager Pau Marti Vicente’s last in charge before stepping down.
Singapore, with the point, are through to the semi-finals but who they’ll face won’t be clear until after Saturday’s Group B deciders. Finishing second means a two-leg affair with the winners of Group B on Thursday, December 26.
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