JAKARTA — Singapore got their FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign back on track with a gritty 1-0 victory over Bangladesh at the iconic Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Sunday, setting up a decisive Causeway derby showdown with Malaysia.
Following a bruising 2-0 defeat to hosts Indonesia in their group opener, head coach Gavin Lee made two tactical adjustments to a side facing a must-win situation in the stifling 34-degree Jakarta heat. With veteran centre-back Safuwan Baharudin suspended after his dismissal against Indonesia, versatile defender Jacob Mahler stepped into the backline alongside skipper Hariss Harun to anchor a reshuffled defensive unit.
Stewart Strikes Again
The opening exchanges were shaped by heavy physical duels, with Bangladesh deploying Premier League midfielder Hamza Choudhury to break up play in the centre of the park. Despite the early attrition, the Lions quickly found attacking rhythm down the flanks.
Singapore’s first breakthrough opportunity arrived in the 17th minute when left-back Nur Adam Abdullah surged forward and whipped a dangerous delivery into the penalty box. Ilhan Fandi met the service with a sharp half-volley, only to be denied by a reaction save from Bangladesh goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon.
Photo: FIFA ASEAN Cup
The turning point came shortly after the half-hour cooling break. In the 35th minute, Nur Adam again found space on the left wing, delivering an inch-perfect cross into the mixer. Harhys Stewart timed his ghosting run to perfection, planting a firm downward header into the bottom corner. The strike marked Stewart’s third international goal for the Lions—and mirrored his decisive goal when the two sides met six months ago in March.
The Lions nearly doubled their advantage just three minutes later, but Ilhan’s instinctive first-time strike clipped the top of the crossbar.
Group A Permutations: Eyes on the Causeway Derby
Defensively disciplined through the latter stages, Singapore absorbed late pressure from the Bengal Tigers to claim all three points, officially eliminating Bangladesh from tournament contention.
The win reshapes the standings in a tightly contested Group A:
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points |
| Malaysia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
| Indonesia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Singapore | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
With Malaysia holding 10-man Indonesia to a scoreless stalemate in the late kick-off, the qualification puzzle is simple: only top spot in the group earns a ticket to the final at Gelora Bung Karno on Oct 5, while the runners-up contest the third-place play-off.
Singapore travel to the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on Oct 1 for their final group-stage clash against arch-rivals Malaysia. With title ambitions hanging in the balance, nothing less than a victory against their Causeway neighbors will suffice.