SEA Games: Singapore top Group A after second straight win

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Singapore eased to their second consecutive victory in the SEA Games after seeing off Brunei 2-0 on Friday night.

The win sent Aide Iskandar’s boys back to the top of Group A with seven points from three games, one ahead of Malaysia, who thrashed Laos 4-1 earlier on in the evening.

The Young Lions entered the game off the back of a surprise 1-0 win over Vietnam on Tuesday and dominated straight from the start. However, they failed to trouble Brunei goalkeeper Omar Sallehuddin despite having most of the possession.

Brunei then came into the match a little more as they made inroads into the Singapore half, earning two free-kicks that came to nothing.

The goal Singapore craved finally came in the 35th minute. Izwan Mahbud’s goal-kick was flicked across the edge of the box by Safuwan and the ball fell to Hariss in a central area. The midfielder instinctively chested it before turning to slam a perfect volley into the bottom corner.

It was a well-taken finish from the Johor Darul Takzim player, who was playing in a more advanced role due to Shahfiq Ghani’s suspension.

The second half began in the same manner as the first did - with Singapore on the front foot. Singapore extended their lead just moments later.

Izzdin flighted a long ball into the box for Sahil, who checked back on to his left foot and slid a low finish into the far corner to make it 2-0 with 57 minutes gone.

Sahil could have grabbed his second of the night when substitute Iqbal Hussain dinked a delightful ball over the top for him in added time, but Omar did well to claw away his deft lob.

The Brunei goalkeeper then denied Quak in the dying seconds after the winger pounced on a defensive lapse, with the final whistle going off before the corner could be taken to signal victory for Singapore.