Singapore - Philippines Preview: Lions looking for fourth appearance in AFF finals
After being held to a goalless draw in the first-leg of the Suzuki Cup semi-final, Singapore will now face elimination if Philippines get a score-draw in the return leg
By Kenneth Ho
Goal.com
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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SINGAPORE
 Izwan Bennett - Safuwan - Baihakki - Esah Mustafic - Isa Amri - Shahril - Shahdan Duric |
PHILIPPINES
 Ed Sacapano R.Gier, J.Guirado, R.Jonsson, D.Cagara J.Lucena, P.Mulders, P.Reichelt, E.Caligdong, Angel Guirado, Phil Younghusband |
After tickets were sold out last week barely hours after they went on sale, Singapore can expect to play in front of a fully-packed stadium, as they look for their fourth final appearance in the Suzuki Cup.
Meanwhile, the Philippines too can look to count on at least 400 fans for support after the allocations for Away supporters also sold out in mere hours on Monday. But it remains to be seen how beneficial the away support will be following Philippines' jittery performance in front of their home fans last week.
Both team are currently level on aggregate following last Saturday's 0-0 draw, although Philippines can qualify for the final with a score-draw as away goals count for double in this year's tournament.
Singapore's Shi Jia Yi's availability is still to be confirmed following his family emergency, while Khairul Amri may start despite limping out in the first-leg.
On the other hand, the Azkals have a full squad to choose from, with Esbjerg midfield enforcer Jerry Lucena joining up with the national team on Monday, and will be looking to the midfield dynamo to beef up the centre of the park.
As always, Singapore's dangerman Shahril Ishak would be the one to look out for, however, he may not run as freely as he may like to due to the return of Lucena, who could mark the flamboyant midfielder out of the game.
- Weiss concedes that Singapore has a 'small advantage' in the second leg
- 'In football you can’t guarantee anything' - Raddy Avramovic
- Do the Malaysians and the Filipinos love their national team more than we Singaporeans do?
- Mustafic Fahrudin: I think it is about time to beat them
- Azkals' Paul Mulders: We are going to do much better
- Philippines coach Hans Michael Weiss 'confident' about second leg
- Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic: We should have scored at least once
- Singapore tickets for second-leg of Philippines match sold out
- Singapore fans ready for red-hot showdown with Philippines
- 'We have to play better if we want to reach the final' - Philippines striker Phil Younghusband
| DID YOU KNOW? |
It will be Philippines' first ever apperance in the AFF tournament's final should they prevail on Wednesday.
- Singapore have failed to win or score against Philippines in their last three matches.
- This is the first AFF Championship game to be played at Jalan Besar Stadium
- In 2006, under the FIFA GOAL plan, the stadium's pitch was relaid with Fifa 1 Star Recommended turf, an artificial turf. The cost of relaying the pitch cost $1 million and was funded by the FIFA Goal Programme and FIFA Financial Assistance Plan.
- Singapore have only failed to advance past the tournament's semi-finals once in their last four attempts, and have won the Cup each time they reached the final.
- Tickets for the home fans were sold out on the first day of sales itself.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Singapore 2-0 Philippines
- 12.91 %
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Singapore 0-1 Philippines
- 10.51 %
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Singapore 0-8 Philippines
- 9.31 %
| Asia - Asean Football Championship (AFF) (AFFC) | Dec 12, 2012 | Singapore 1 - Philippines 0 |
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| Asia - Asean Football Championship (AFF) (AFFC) | Dec 8, 2012 | Philippines 0 - Singapore 0 |
|
| International Friendlies (FR) | Nov 15, 2012 | Philippines 1 - Singapore 0 |
|
| International Friendlies (FR) | Sep 7, 2012 | Singapore 0 - Philippines 2 |
|
| International Friendlies (FR) | Oct 7, 2011 | Singapore 2 - Philippines 0 |
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Singapore
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| Feb 6, 2013 | Jordan 4 - Singapore 0 | ACQ |
| Dec 22, 2012 | Thailand 1 - Singapore 0 | AFFC |
| Dec 19, 2012 | Singapore 3 - Thailand 1 | AFFC |
| Dec 12, 2012 | Singapore 1 - Philippines 0 | AFFC |
| Dec 8, 2012 | Philippines 0 - Singapore 0 | AFFC |
Philippines
|
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| Mar 26, 2013 | Philippines 1 - Turkmenistan 0 | ACC |
| Mar 24, 2013 | Cambodia 0 - Philippines 8 | ACC |
| Mar 22, 2013 | Philippines 3 - Brunei 0 | ACC |
| Feb 6, 2013 | Myanmar 0 - Philippines 1 | FR |
| Dec 12, 2012 | Singapore 1 - Philippines 0 | AFFC |
| 1 | Izwan Mahbud | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Shaiful Esah | Defender |
| 22 | Safuwan Baharudin | Defender |
| 5 | Baihakki Khaizan | Defender |
| 16 | Daniel Bennett | Defender |
| 6 | Shahdan Sulaiman | Midfielder |
| 4 | I. Abdul Halim | Midfielder |
| 17 | Shahril Ishak | Midfielder |
| 15 | Fahrudin Mustafic | Midfielder |
| 10 | Khairul Amri | Striker |
| 9 | Aleksandar Duric | Striker |
| 12 | F. Nawaz | Midfielder |
| 8 | Qiu Li | Striker |
| 2 | Fazli Ayob | Midfielder |
| 18 | Hyrulnizam Jumaat | Goalkeeper |
| 19 | Irwan Shah | Defender |
| 24 | Firdaus Kasman | Midfielder |
| 29 | H. Rahim | Striker |
| 21 | Joey Sim Wei Zhi | Goalkeeper |
| 34 | Zulfahmi Arifin | Midfielder |
| 88 | Eduard Sacapano | Goalkeeper |
| 8 | Dennis Cagara | Defender |
| 2 | Rob Gier | Defender |
| 5 | J. Guirado | Midfielder |
| 19 | Jerry Ruben Lucena | Defender |
| 29 | Patrick Reichelt | Midfielder |
| 14 | Carli de Murga | Defender |
| 7 | James Younghusband | Midfielder |
| 22 | Paul Mulders | Midfielder |
| 10 | Philip Younghusband | Striker |
| 12 | Angel Guirado Aldeguer | Midfielder |
| 32 | Ref Delaney Ursos Cuaresma | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Emelio Caligdong | Striker |
| 18 | Christopher Greatwich | Midfielder |
| 20 | Denis Wolf | Striker |
| 21 | Jason de Jong | Midfielder |
| 38 | Marwin Angeles | Midfielder |
| 27 | Ray Anthony Pepito Jónsson | Midfielder |
| 28 | Jeffrey Mallen Christiaens | Striker |
| 34 | Demeitrius Omphroy | Midfielder |
1 
3 
22 
5 
16 
6 
4 
17 
15 
10 
9 
88 
8 
2 
5 
19 
29 
14 
7 
22 
10 
12 
Results
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
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Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Teerasil Dangda Striker Muangthong United |
8 | 0 |
|
Shahril Ishak Midfielder LionsXII |
4 | 0 |
|
Khampheng Sayavutthi Striker |
3 | 2 |
|
Khairul Amri Midfielder Tampines |
3 | 0 |
|
|
Kirati Keawsombut Striker |
3 | 0 |