Four-time champions Singapore fell to a 1-0 defeat to the Philippines in a Group B match played at the Panaad Park & Stadium in Bacolod City on Tuesday.
 
For Singapore, the defeat came in the wake of their 1-0 win over Indonesia at home last week. For the Azkals, it was a winning start for their new coach, Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson who guided England to the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2006.
 
It was not the best performance from both sides although the Philippines boasted of their foreign-based players including goalkeeper Neil Etheridge who plays for Cardiff City in the English Premier League.
 
A throw-in in the 78th minute proved fatal for the Lions. James Younghusband long throw-in on the right landed for Patrick Reichelt who shrugged off his marker and drilled home a low shot under the on-rushing Singapore custodian Hassan Sunny.
 
Until then Hassan did well to keep his goal intact and saved attempts by James’ brother and skipper Phil Younghusband and Mike Ott.
 
Singapore had their chances but Faris Ramli, Ikhsan Fandi and Khairul Amri could make the breakthrough against their opponents.
 
To add to coach Fandi Ahmad’woes Faris, who plays for PKNS FC in the Malaysian Super League was stretchered out with a suspected hamstring injury. His replacement lasted only six minutes when he took was stretchered out with a right shoulder injury after landing heavily while challenging for the ball.
 
Singapore next plays winless Timor Leste at home on Nov 21. Timor Leste went down to Indonesia 3-1 at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta in another Group B match. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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