SINGAPORE, 18 APRIL 2019 – Both Tampines Rovers and Home United picked up second consecutive victories in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup last night and in late fashion, too. We take a quick look at each game…

Group F
Tampines Rovers 4-2 Naga World | Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Irwan Shah 3’, Yasir Hanapi 87’, Khairul Amri 90’+1, Jordan Webb 90’+7 | Kouch Dani 14’, Omogba Esoh 90’

An almighty battle took place at Jalan Besar as both teams produced another six-goal thriller in their second group encounter. The Stags had run out 5-1 winners in Cambodia and looked set to cruise when Irwan Shah calmly finished off Zehrudin Mehmedović’s excellent through pass with barely three minutes on the clock. But Kouch Danithen capitalised on some slack defending to fire in a low shot and rattled Tampines. The yellow tide finally broke through with three minutes left as Yasir Hanapi blasted off Jordan Webb’s cutback but the hosts were stunned a second time when substitute Omogba Esoh bundled in from close range on the stroke of full time. Magic was desperately needed and it was provided by Khairul Amri, who met Ryutaro Megumi’s cross with a spectacular overhead kick to finally end Naga World’s resistance and Webb curled home a fourth with the final kick to leave Tampines top with two games left and in pole position to win the group.

Tampines: Syazwan Buhari (GK), Madhu Mohana, Daniel Bennett, Amirul Adli, Irwan Shah (Mirza Delimedac 77’), Shahdan Sulaiman (C), Zehrudin Mehmedović, Yasir Hanapi (Akmal Azman 90’+3), Ryutaro Megumi, Jordan Webb, Khairul Amri (Taufik Suparno 90’+5).
Unused subs: Zulfairuuz Rudy (GK), Joel Chew, Shah Shahiran, Hamizan Hisham.

Next match: Wednesday, 1 May, vs Yangon United, Jalan Besar Stadium.

Group H
Lao Toyota 2-3 Home United | New Laos National Stadium
Rafael de Sa Rodrigues 11’, Kazuo Homma pen. 75’ | Song Uiyoung 15’, pen. 40’, Hafiz Nor 89’

Song Uiyoung marked his first AFC Cup appearance this season with a man-of-the-match display in Vientiane as he scored twice and set up the winner. Rafael headed the hosts into a shock lead early on but the visitors quickly restored parity as Song headed in Izzdin Shafiq’s free-kick. The Korean then gave Home the lead from the spot after Faritz Hameed was hauled down but Aqhari Abdullah’s dismissal on 68 minutes for a second booking gave Laos hope. They took advantage within minutes as Faritz turned villain, fouling Rafael in the box to allow captain Kazuo Homma to score the penalty. But Home had the last laugh thanks to Hafiz Nor, who collected Song’s pass and turned to curl a beautiful winner into the bottom right corner from 25 yards.

Home: Nazri Sabri (GK), Juma’at Jantan, Abdil Qaiyyim, Aqhari Abdullah, Faritz Hameed, Song Uiyoung (Ho Wai Loon 90’+2), Hafiz Nor (Arshad Shamim 90’+4), Izzdin Shafiq (C), Faizal Roslan, Amiruldin Asraf (Iqram Rifqi 80’), Adam Swandi.
Unused subs: Haikal Hasnol (GK), Isaka Cernak, Nur Hizami.

Next match: 30 April, vs PSM Makassar, Pakansari Stadium, Indonesia.