S'pore loses 0-2 to Vietnam in 1st leg of Asean Championship semi-finals at Jalan Besar Stadium

Singapore lost 0-2 to Vietnam at home at the Jalan Besar Stadium for the first leg of the Asean Championship semi-finals on Thursday, Dec. 26.

The controversial finish saw Vietnam score two late goals via a stoppage-time penalty in the 101st minute courtesy of Nguyen Tien Linh, and a strike from Nguyen Xuan Son in the 104th minute.

The crowd of 5,233, mostly Singaporeans, fell silent.

The loss ended Singapore's unbeaten streak at the 6,000-seater Jalan Besar Stadium.

The last loss there was against Chinese Taipei in 2017.

The result also means that Vietnam have the additional advantage of playing at home: The second leg will be held at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho province on Sunday, Dec. 29.

How the match went

Vietnam's ninth minute goal was disallowed due to offside.

Brazil-born striker Nguyen Xuan Son, previously known as Rafaelson, then hit the crossbar with a bicycle kick from an offside position.

In 61st minute, Singapore's goal was deemed offside as well.

In the last 10 minutes of regular play, Singapore substitute Faris Ramli was tackled in the penalty box, but a lengthy VAR check yielded no penalty.

Vietnam's Nguyen Xuan Son then scored a volley, but he was deemed to have handled the ball.

Singapore substitute Shakir Hamzah was then judged to have handled in the box and the penalty awarded was converted by Nguyen Tien Linh.

Nguyen Xuan Son then scored the second goal for Vietnam.

Finals against Thailand or the Philippines

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

The last time Singapore beat Vietnam, a regional footballing heavyweight, was in 1998 in the final of the same tournament, which was known as the Tiger Cup.

Top photos via Football Association of Singapore (FAS)