ASEAN Championship - S-final (1st Leg): Singapore 1-3 Thailand

Singapore: Seven-time champions Thailand will take a 3-1 lead into the second leg of their ASEAN Championship 2026 semi-final against Singapore after Anthony Hudson’s side cruised to victory at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday.

Teerasak Poeiphimai scored twice in the opening 26 minutes to send the visitors on their way to a commanding victory before Shawal Anuar saw his penalty saved for the home side and Seksan Ratree hit Thailand’s third in the 51st minute.

Substitute Ilhan Fandi provided Singapore with a late lifeline through his strike from distance six minutes from time. The teams will meet again in Bangkok on Tuesday with the Singaporeans facing a significant task to advance to the country’s first final since 2012.

Teerasak gave the Thais the lead in the 14th minute against the run of play, the 23-year-old forward steering his low strike past Izwan Mahbud after the Singaporean defence had needlessly given up possession inside their own half.

Thailand doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Teerasak was on target again as he punished more slack defending from the home side, arriving into the penalty area to nod home Waris Choolthong’s cross from the right unopposed.

The Singaporeans should have pulled one back with 10 minutes left in the half when Shawal Anuar was bundled over at a corner by Yotsakon Burapha but Kampon Pathomakkakul dived to his right to save Shawal’s spot-kick.

The Thais added to their lead six minutes into the second half when Patrik Gustavsson, who had been introduced at halftime, drove down the left before delivering a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box that Seksan tapped home.

But Ilhan became the first player to find a way through the Thai defence at the 2026 edition with a curling effort from the edge of the area that beat Kampon via the inside of his left post and give Singapore a glimmer of hope.

The first leg of the second semi-final featuring Malaysia and defending champions Vietnam will be played in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Photo: Football Association of Singapore/Supakit/Changsuek

S-final (1st Leg): Singapore 1-3 Thailand

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