AFC U20 Asian Cup
Singapore defeated Macau, China 1-0, while Chinese Taipei held off a battling Bhutan 2-1 to secure their berth in the qualification rounds for the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2029.
Both sides will face off on Sunday to decide the group winners.
Macau 0-1 Singapore
Singapore were a handful for Macau from the start, with Lukyan Tan Ye Yi threatening through the centre, while B Ryan Vishal headed over the bar and Andy Reefqy saw his grounded effort repelled by Macau goalkeeper Ao Wai Hang Alex.
Singapore were a handful for Macau from the start, with Lukyan Tan Ye Yi threatening through the centre, while B Ryan Vishal headed over the bar and Andy Reefqy saw his grounded effort repelled by Macau goalkeeper Ao Wai Hang Alex.
The Southeast Asian side threatened again in the 26th minute when Mohammed Zharfan burst into the box and teed up Lukyan Tan, only for the forward to send his effort narrowly over the bar.
Singapore finally broke the deadlock three minutes later when Andy Reefqy dispossessed Tang Chin Long Harrison at the top of the area before setting up Sarrvin Raj, who calmly finished into the top right corner.
Macau were more imposing after the restart but could not find a way past Singapore, who held on to secure the victory.
Qualifiers - Group J: Macau v Singapore; Bhutan v Chinese Taipei
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Bhutan 1-2 Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei caught Bhutan by surprise when they took the lead in the eighth minute after Lai Yi Chiao’s cross into the box saw the ball diverted to Diego Finotti, who slotted it calmly into the bottom right corner.
Finotti threatened again three minutes later with an effort from just outside the box, but Bhutan goalkeeper Tandin Penjor was equal to the task.
Penjor stayed defiant in the remainder of the half, denying Lin Ping Tse from close range following a corner in the 36th minute as Chinese Taipei took a slim lead going into the break.
Bhutan’s persistence in the second half paid off in the 66th minute when Chinese Taipei failed to deal with Tandin Tshewang’s cross into the box, with Kelden Dorjee reacting quickest to convert the rebound after goalkeeper Tsai Yu Cheng spilled Rinzin Dorji’s effort.
However, the East Asian side had the final say in the 81st minute when Cheng Yu Chen pounced on a loose ball inside the box before drilling a low shot into the bottom right corner.
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