SINGAPORE: Two late goals in the depths of stoppage time saw the Lions fall 2-0 to regional heavyweights Vietnam in the first leg of the ASEAN Championship semi-finals on Thursday (Dec 26).

At the Jalan Besar Stadium, a stoppage-time penalty from Nguyen Tien Linh and a strike from Nguyen Xuan Son meant that Singapore have the odds stacked against them if they are to make their first tournament final since 2012.

Vietnam hold the additional advantage of playing at home, with the second leg at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho province on Sunday.

The last time Singapore beat Vietnam was in the final of the 1998 edition of the tournament, then known as the Tiger Cup.

The loss also means that Singapore's unbeaten streak at the Jalan Besar Stadium came to an end. Before Thursday, Singapore's last loss at the 6,000-seater venue was in 2017 against Chinese Taipei.

Thursday's game was played at the Jalan Besar Stadium instead of the 55,000-capacity National Stadium following a late tournament schedule change by organisers.

This meant that the National Stadium was unavailable for this match and the rest of the tournament, having already been booked for concerts during this period.

It was the home side’s turn to put the ball in the back of the net in the 61st minute but Shawal’s finish was deemed offside after he was played through by the energetic Hami Syahin.

Singapore came agonisingly close minutes later but the fingertips of the Vietnamese goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu denied substitute Taufik Suparno.

Vietnam were not without threat though, as a superb chip from Nguyen Tien Linh beat Izwan but flew just wide.

There was drama in the last 10 minutes of regular time, as substitute Faris Ramli was tackled in the penalty box, but no penalty was given after a lengthy VAR check.

It was Vietnam’s turn to feel aggrieved next as Nguyen Xuan Son hammered a brilliant volley into the back of the net, but was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Then came the moment which changed the game as substitute Shakir Hamzah was harshly judged to have handled in the box after falling over.

Nguyen Tien Linh held his nerve to tuck his spot kick home and silence the crowd. And with the capacity crowd stunned, Nguyen Xuan Son made the game safe with his goal.

Prior to Thursday's match, Vietnam had topped Group B with three wins and a draw. The Lions finished second in Group A with two wins, a draw and a defeat to Thailand.

The Lions had last faced Vietnam in December 2022 at the same venue, with the sides drawing 0-0 in the group stage of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup. Vietnam eventually finished runners-up to Thailand in that tournament.

The winner of the semi-finals will take on either Thailand or the Philippines in the final.

Catch the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 live or on-demand for free from Dec 8, 2024, to Jan 5, 2025, on mewatch. Visit mewatch.sg/aseancup for more details.