PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA — Ilhan Fandi struck with virtually the last kick of the game as Singapore opened their ASEAN Hyundai Cup campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Cambodia at Phnom Penh’s National Stadium, earning three crucial points in a fiercely contested Group A encounter.

The Lions left it late, but Ilhan’s instinctive turn and finish deep into stoppage time capped a dramatic evening that saw Singapore squander control, survive sustained Cambodian pressure and eventually snatch victory when the match appeared destined for a draw.

Singapore made an energetic start and nearly found the breakthrough within the opening minute. Glenn Kweh cut in from the right before delivering a dangerous cross into the penalty area, but Shawal Anuar was just unable to apply the finishing touch.

Buoyed by a vocal home crowd, Cambodia gradually settled into the contest and began pressing higher up the pitch. Despite the hosts enjoying more possession, Singapore remained dangerous on the break with Shawal providing a constant focal point in attack.

The Lions thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half after another well-worked move down the right, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. It proved to be an early warning for Cambodia as Singapore continued to build momentum.

After Yudai Ogawa became the first player booked following a rash challenge, Singapore finally found the breakthrough in the 21st minute.

Lionel Tan produced a perfectly weighted through ball that split Cambodia’s defence, allowing Shawal to race clear before beating goalkeeper Keo Soksela at his near post for a deserved 1-0 lead.

The impressive turnout inside the National Stadium once again demonstrated the enduring appeal of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup, with thousands of Cambodian supporters creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the evening.

Both sides continued to battle for control before the interval, but neither managed to establish sustained dominance as Singapore carried their slender advantage into the break.

Cambodia emerged from the dressing room with renewed purpose, pushing numbers forward in search of an equaliser while leaving gaps for Singapore to exploit on the counterattack.

The hosts were rewarded in the 54th minute after Singapore repeatedly failed to clear their lines, allowing Cambodia to capitalise and level the scores at 1-1.

The match quickly developed into an open, end-to-end affair. Singapore almost regained the lead with an effort that deflected behind for a corner, while Gavin Lee introduced tactical changes in an attempt to regain control.

A pivotal moment arrived in the 65th minute when veteran goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud produced an outstanding save to deny Cambodia, keeping the Lions level as momentum threatened to swing decisively towards the hosts.

Late drama followed when Singapore thought they had restored their advantage after a goalmouth scramble, only for VAR to rule Jacob Mahler offside after a lengthy review.

Rather than allowing frustration to creep in, Singapore found one final moment of inspiration.

Deep into stoppage time, Ilhan received the ball inside the penalty area, shifted it onto his stronger foot with a sharp turn and rifled a low shot beyond the goalkeeper to seal victory with virtually the final touch of the match.

The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations among the Singapore players, who had endured a testing evening before claiming a priceless three points to begin their regional campaign.

Despite the dramatic finish, head coach Gavin Lee admitted afterwards that his side had fallen well short of its own standards. “To be honest, I haven’t really had the appetite to enjoy the win,” said Lee. “The boys are aware as well—we’re definitely not proud of the performance.”

While pleased with the result, Lee felt Singapore’s display left plenty of room for improvement. “The three points are the most important thing, but the performance today was well below average. We started very slowly. It’s a good lesson for us. If we want to go far in this tournament, we have to produce much better performances.”

The Singapore coach revealed he challenged his players during the interval after they failed to execute their game plan. “We go into every game with certain agreements, and today we didn’t stick to them, especially in the first half. At half-time we showed everyone the mirror.”

Lee also praised his team’s resilience after seeing a second goal ruled out before Ilhan’s late winner finally stood. “We never gave up, we never gave in. We just kept going. We always say a slow start doesn’t have to mean a slow finish. Today it almost hurt us, but fortunately we have players with character who stepped up.”

Match-winner Ilhan Fandi, who was introduced from the bench, said the victory would provide a welcome confidence boost despite acknowledging the team’s performance was below expectations. “For a striker, getting off to a good start is important because I want to help the team as much as I can,” he said.

“The performance wasn’t good enough today, but the most important thing is the three points to start our campaign. It’s a big morale boost for the whole team going into the next game.”

Reflecting on his winning goal, Ilhan explained that instinct took over in the decisive moment. “I have a really good understanding with Song. I tried to pull away from my defender and felt I couldn’t hit the ball first time, so I flicked it up. After that it was just instinct. I’m just really happy it came off.”

He also revealed the message from Lee after the lengthy VAR review that had ruled out Singapore’s earlier effort. “Coach Gavin told me to stop complaining and just keep playing. I just had a feeling we were going to get another goal—and we did.”

Cambodia head coach Koji Gyotoku was left disappointed after seeing his side concede in stoppage time but praised his players’ effort throughout the contest. “First of all, congratulations to Singapore. It was a very difficult match and our players fought very hard,” he said.

Gyotoku pointed to the inexperience of parts of his squad and fitness concerns as contributing factors. “We have several new and young players in the squad, and some of our players were not in the best physical condition before the match. Those factors affected our performance.”

The Japanese coach also felt the lengthy VAR review before Singapore’s eventual winner disrupted his team’s concentration. “The VAR review took a long time. During that period we lost our concentration, and we couldn’t communicate properly with the players. That contributed to the goal we conceded.”

Although Cambodia were left empty-handed, Gyotoku remained optimistic. “We’ll learn from this, prepare better and look forward to the next match.”

For Singapore, however, the result could prove significant. In a tightly contested ASEAN Hyundai Cup group where every point is likely to matter, securing an away victory, and gives the Lions early momentum as they continue their pursuit of a place in the knockout rounds.