SINGAPORE, 2 MAY 2019 – Singapore’s representatives in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup experienced contrasting fortunes on Match-day 5 as Home United threw away a two-goal lead to fall at PSM Makassar, while Tampines Rovers survived a scare to plant one foot in the next stage. We take a quick look at each game…

Group H
PSM Makassar 3-2 Home United | Pakansari Stadium
Marc Klok pen. 60’, 78’, Guy Junior 87’ | Hafiz Nor 52’, 55’

Victory against PSM Makassar would have seen Home close the gap on the former at the top to one point and they looked set to do just that after Hafiz Nor struck twice. The first was a neat finish after turning his marker on the edge of the box, while his second was a composed end to Song Uiyoung’s through ball. But the hosts roared back and Marc Klok’s penalty reduced arrears, before he smashed a stunning volley in from 25 yards to equalise. Guy Junior’s fierce effort from the edge of the box completed the turnaround and left Home’s hopes of progress hanging by a thread.

Home: Nazri Sabri (GK), Juma’at Jantan, Abdil Qaiyyim, Ho Wai Loon, Faritz Hameed, Song Uiyoung, Hafiz Nor (Iqram Rifqi 73’), Izzdin Shafiq (C), Hami Syahin, Amiruldin Asraf (Isaka Cernak 79’), Adam Swandi.
Unused subs: Haikal Hasnol (GK), Rudy Khairullah (GK), Nur Hizami, Sheikh Faris, Muhelmy Suhaimi.

Next match: Tuesday, 14 May, vs Kaya-Iloilo, Jalan Besar Stadium.

Group F
Tampines Rovers 4-3 Yangon United | Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Khairul Amri 2′, 43′, 77′, Irwan Shah 90’+1’ | Soe Min Naing 58′, Mg Mg Lwin 72′, Kyaw Zin Oo 85′

A ding-dong affair ended up with Tampines scraping through as they twice squandered leads against the visitors, who were already eliminated. Khairul Amri’s double gave the Stags a comfortable half-time advantage but they were punished for their profligacy when Yangon improbably drew level after the break. Amri thought he won it when he headed in Ryutaro Megumi’s cross, but Yangon equalised once more with five minutes left to seemingly steal a point. However, there was one final twist as Madhu’s clever header played in Irwan Shah, who stabbed in the winner to leave Tampines needing just a draw in their final game away to Hanoi FC to qualify for the next stage.

Tampines: Syazwan Buhari (GK), Madhu Mohana, Daniel Bennett, Amirul Adli, Irwan Shah, Shahdan Sulaiman (C), Zehrudin Mehmedović (Mirza Delimedac 46′), Yasir Hanapi (Taufik Suparno 90’+3), Ryutaro Megumi, Jordan Webb, Khairul Amri (Shah Shahiran 83′).
Unused subs: Zulfairuuz Rudy (GK), Akmal Azman, Zulfadhmi Suzliman, Joel Chew.

Next match: Wednesday, 15 May, vs Hanoi FC, Hàng Đẫy Stadium, Vietnam.

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