It’s been a slow start to their AFC Cup campaign for last year’s ASEAN Zone champions, Home United, with just one win from their first three matches.
One mitigating factor has been the prolonged absence of key man Song, one of the standout players in last year’s competition and a player who contributed five goals in the group stage in 2018, finishing with nine goals overall.
But having recovered from a groin complaint that saw him miss the first three matches of this year’s campaign, Song returned for Home United on Wednesday and made an immediate impact for The Protectors.
The Korean netted two goals and assisted a third in their 3-2 win at Lao Toyota, a result made even more impressive when taking into consideration the dismissal of midfielder Aqhari Abdullah for a second bookable offence on 68 minutes.
“I am very happy to win, especially being an away game,” Song said after the game.
“It wasn’t easy being one man down but I am very proud of my teammates, we didn’t give up until the end of the game.
“It was important that we take three points from this game, and we (now) need to prepare for the next game.”
Group H: Lao Toyota FC v Home United FC
The victory takes Home United to second spot in Group H, just a point behind Indonesian side PSM Makassar who they face in Indonesia in their next match on April 30.
“In the next tie it will be an away game again, so we just prepare as usual as we have done before,” the 25-year-old said.
“We go back to Singapore and play an S.League game again, so we need to rest and prepare.”
The loss extended Lao Toyota’s winless run in the AFC Cup to 13 matches and knocks them out of this year’s competition, but their captain, Japanese forward Kazuo Homma, vowed to fight until the end.
“Congratulations to Home United, they are away from home but they got the three points,” the 39-year-old said.
“Mathematically it’s difficult to go to the next round, but for the Lao people we have to fight for the final two games.”
