India fail to qualify for Asian Cup as Song Ui-young brace keeps Singapore alive with 2-1 win
Singapore grabbed a much-needed 2-1 victory away to India, as a Song Ui-young brace was enough for Gavin Lee's side to keep their AFC Asian Cup qualification. hopes alive, while Khalid Jamil's side were knocked out at the Fatorda. A dominant first half display and Lallianzuala Chhangte's long-range strike went in vain as Singapore's counter-attacking stung India, with Song scoring just before half-time and the hour mark. With leaders Hong Kong drawing 1-1 at home to Bangladesh earlier, Singapore closed to gap to the top of Group C to two points with a win, while India fell to the bottom of the group, and out of contention with the loss.
With Khalid Jamil outlining his intent to attack right from the off in his pre-match interview with the broadcasters, India began with a high-press that caused Singapore plenty of problems as they attempted to play out from the back. India's pressure told in the fourteenth minute, as Chhangte was afforded acres of space about thirty yards out from the Singaporean goal, and he let fly with his weaker right foot, sending a cannon off a strike past Izwan Mahbud in the Singaporean net into the top corner.
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India kept up their intensity and proceeded to cause the visitors plenty of problems as the half wore on. Chhangte, Liston Colaco and Mahesh Singh floated all over the pitch, with India earning plenty of joy down their left wing. Chhangte sent in a couple of crosses that required last ditch clearances and interceptions, while Liston saw a low drive cleared off the line. A superb set-up from Sunil Chhetri saw Mahesh shoot straight at the keeper when either side would have doubled India's lead, and Chhangte also wasted a gilt-edge chance in the box, spooning the ball over when in plenty of space.
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India's profligacy came to haut of half-time as Singapore found their equalizer. Irfan Najeeb swung in an early cross from the right, and with Ikhsan Fandi occupying plenty of defenders, the ball fell to Glenn Kweh in space on the left side of the box. Keeping his composure, he passed it to Song running into the box and the Singaporean midfielder stroked a low drive past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 going into the break.
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