Suzuki Cup: Lions had elephants for dinner in final first leg

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http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/EDC121219-0000117/Singapore-beat-Thailand-3-1-in-Suzuki-Cup-final-first-leg

Singapore got off to a dream start when they were awarded a penalty in the ninth minute after Thai midfielder Piyapol Bantao was adjudged to have dragged Aleksandar Duric down in the penalty box.

Midfielder Fahrudin Mustafic sent Thai goalie Kawin Thammasatchanan the wrong way but the referee blew for a re-kick after Duric was deemed to have entered the box just before the penalty was taken.

However, an unfazed Mustafic proceeded to calmly send Kawin the wrong way again to give the Lions a confidence-boosting 1-0 lead.

The game burst into life after that as the Thais poured forward in search of the equaliser. But in doing so, they also left gaps in their midfield which a counter-attacking Singapore tried to exploit.

Thailand finally equalized in the 58th minute when Teerasil Dangda avoided Baihakki Khaizan's sliding challenge before sending a pass across the face of Singapore's goal which an unmarked Adul Lahso slammed past a hapless Izwan Mahbud.

But the Thais' joy was shortlived when, barely two minutes later, Khairul Amri, with his back towards the Thai goal, received a pass from Duric and proceeded to turn and whip a wicked shot past Kawin into the net.

Singapore then made it a dream ending in the 90th minute when Kawin misjudged Shaiful Esah's cross, allowing Baihakki to slam the ball into an empty net for the 3-1 win.