Mitsibushi Asean Cup first leg semifinals: Singapore lose to Vietnam at home as Philippines upset favourites Thailand in Manila

Team Philippines celebrate their win during the 2024 ASEAN Electric Cup semi-final round football match between the Philippines and Thailand at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday, December 27, 2024. - AFP

SINGAPORE suffered two sickening stoppage-time blows on Boxing Day as they lost 2-0 to Vietnam in the first leg of the Asean Championship semi-finals at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday while Philippines upset Thailand 2-1 for their first win over their rivals in 52 years on Sunday night.

Post-match, Singapore coach Tsutomu Ogura felt his team were unlucky but needed to improve in terms of stamina, focus and consistency, after they conceded a debatable 101st-minute penalty, before what looked to be a 104th-minute knockout punch.