The Lions produced a spirited performance in Bangkok to beat Thailand 2-1 on the night, but the War Elephants advanced 4-3 on aggregate to reach the ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 final.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Singapore came within one goal of completing a remarkable comeback in Bangkok, but their ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 campaign ultimately ended in heartbreak as Thailand advanced to the final 4-3 on aggregate.

The Lions won 2-1 at Rajamangala Stadium on Tuesday night, overturning their 3-1 first-leg defeat in Singapore, but were unable to find the third goal they needed to force extra time. For long stretches, however, Singapore looked like a side capable of completing the comeback. The heavy afternoon downpour had left its mark on the pitch, with patches of standing water making the surface difficult to negotiate. Both teams struggled to find their footing early on, with the unpredictable bounce and slick conditions becoming an opponent in their own right.

For Thailand, the frustration was evident. The hosts struggled to impose themselves in front of their home supporters, while Singapore gradually found their way into the game.

The first goal was always going to be crucial, and it arrived just before the break. Farhan Zulkifli made an excellent run down the right before cutting the ball back towards Song Ui-young, whose first-time effort was straight at Thailand goalkeeper Kampon Phatomakkakul.

But Singapore would not have to wait long. Two minutes later, Kampon raced out of his goal to deal with Farhan near the corner of the penalty area. The ball fell kindly to Ryhan Stewart, who showed remarkable composure to send his first-time effort into the unguarded net: Singapore 1-0 Thailand. Suddenly, the impossible looked possible.

Thailand emerged for the second half with their heads down, while Singapore returned with renewed conviction. Two more goals would have been enough to send the Lions through. As the game became increasingly frantic, the physical and mental demands grew. This was a contest in which composure mattered as much as quality.

Then, in the 59th minute, Thailand were awarded a penalty. Ryhan Stewart, who had given Singapore the lead, brought down Wanchai Jarunongkran in the box after an expansive Thai move. Kakana Khamyok made no mistake from the spot, thumping his penalty into the top corner beyond Izwan Mahbud.

1-1 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate. Singapore’s response was immediate. Just four minutes later, Thailand failed to clear a corner. The ball eventually fell to Ryhan, who had gone from hero to villain and back to hero in the space of minutes. His low effort took a deflection off Pansa Hemviboon and flew past Kampon.

Singapore 2-1 Thailand. The Lions needed just one more, and they continued to push. Thailand, however, still carried a huge threat on the counter. Teerasak Poeiphimai produced one of the moments of the night when he burst forward and unleashed a shot that crashed against Izwan’s post.

Minutes later, the Singapore goalkeeper produced another crucial intervention, denying Teerasak again and keeping the Lions’ hopes alive.Five minutes of additional time were shown. Singapore threw everything forward, but the third goal would not come.

The final whistle confirmed what the scoreline on the night could not change: Singapore had won 2-1, but Thailand progressed 4-3 on aggregate. It was Singapore’s first victory over Thailand since 2012, but the result was ultimately not enough to extend their campaign.

Singapore head coach Gavin Lee was understandably disappointed, but found plenty to be proud of in his team’s response. “Before the tournament, we said we wanted to allow our performance to determine the destination. I thought tonight’s performance from the boys was massively something to be proud of.”

Lee admitted he had believed the tie could be pushed into extra time. “I thought we were going to get extra time, to be honest. But football is cruel. We were able to do it, maybe we just fell short a little bit.”

For Lee, however, the result did little to diminish what Singapore had built throughout the tournament. “There are so many positives that we can take away from this competition. We’ll just keep on doing it.”

That sense of progress was also reflected in the team’s relationship with the supporters, something Lee repeatedly highlighted throughout the tournament. “One thing that we should be proud of is our connection with the fans. During the tournament, the support we had at home was just amazing.”

He added that the players were beginning to understand what representing Singapore means to a deeper level. “It’s been a long while since we’ve had this relationship and we want to build on this. The boys recognise, and the fans also recognise, that this group of players know more and more what it means to play for the national team.”

And perhaps the most important takeaway of all: “They never give up, they never give in. Things that I think Singaporeans are very proud of and they resonate with them.”

Player of the Match Ryhan Stewart, whose goal put Singapore ahead and whose deflected effort restored their lead, was equally proud of the performance. “We did really well tonight. But it wasn’t enough.”

The 3-1 first-leg defeat had left Singapore with an enormous task in Bangkok, but Ryhan said the squad embraced it. “Coming to Thailand with two goals down is a very difficult thing. And I’m so proud of everyone in the team. We gave 100% and we just fell short tonight.”

Despite the disappointment, he was clear about how he felt about Singapore’s performance. “Regardless of that, I’m very happy with the performance tonight.”

Ryhan’s comments echoed the wider mood around the Singapore camp: disappointment at the result, but belief that this group has taken another significant step forward.

Singapore’s run to the semi-finals has provided perhaps the strongest evidence yet of the progress being made under Lee. The Lions had already produced notable results against stronger opposition during the tournament, and their response to adversity in Bangkok offered another important marker.

Lee believes belief cannot simply be created through words. “You cannot buy belief from a changing room. It’s just not possible. Belief is bigger than anything.”

Instead, he pointed to the team’s experiences against higher-ranked opposition as the foundation for that growing confidence. “The question is, can we do it even better against even bigger opposition? That’s how we grow.”

The semi-final defeat, he suggested, should therefore become another building block rather than an endpoint. “These are again evidence for the players to take home and build on it in the next window.”

There was also a clear message for the Singapore supporters who had followed the team throughout the tournament. “A big thank you to all our Singapore fans.”

Lee acknowledged that there had been doubters, but said the support shown by the fans, particularly after the first-leg defeat, had been extraordinary. “Going back to the first leg, we were down 3-0, but the fans were still behind us. As players, it’s just amazing. That is the feeling, just the belief that you can ride on and build on.”

And as Singapore now turn their attention towards their next challenges, Lee believes that spirit will remain central. “We will never give up, we will never give in. We just keep trying and trying and trying as we move towards our target.”

For Thailand, reaching the final represented a successful conclusion to a semi-final that became far more uncomfortable than their first-leg advantage suggested. Head coach Anthony Hudson was proud of his players for getting through, particularly given the make-up of his squad. “First of all, I am proud of the players for getting to the final. It’s an achievement for a young, mixed group, so I’m very proud in that sense.”

But he made no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction with the performance in Bangkok. “I’m disappointed with the performance tonight. There are a lot of things that we need to fix.”

Thailand had been given a two-goal cushion after their 3-1 victory in Singapore, but Singapore’s intensity and organisation in the second leg exposed areas Hudson knows his side must address before the final.

The Thai coach also acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding his team, with the tournament taking place during what he described as a pre-season period and with very limited preparation time between matches. “We’re going through a pre-season stage. We just played against Singapore’s strongest team.”

Despite the disappointment of the second leg, the bigger picture remained positive for Hudson. Thailand, seven-time champions of the competition, are now through to the final, where they will face either defending champions Vietnam or Malaysia.

For Singapore, there is no final to look forward to. But after a night in which they came within one goal of one of the most remarkable comebacks in their recent history, there is plenty to build on.

They may have lost the tie, but they certainly won the night. And perhaps most importantly, they showed that this Singapore side is no longer simply hoping to compete with the region’s best; it is beginning to believe it belongs there.

Photo Credit: SPORTFIVE