PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Eight months ago, a moment of individual brilliance from Ilhan Fandi secured for Singapore a historic AFC Asian Cup qualification on merit for the first time ever.
On Friday, at Morodok Techo National Stadium, the stakes may not have been as high yet -- given it was the opening game of the 2026 ASEAN Championship -- but the script repeated itself, with the Lions' star boy producing another stunning effort -- this time right at the death -- to help his side snatch a 2-1 victory over Cambodia in Group A.
The result ensured that Singapore board the plane back to Changi Airport on Saturday morning with the three points that already loom as crucial for their semifinal prospects given the tougher tests that lie ahead -- but they will also be heading home sighing with relief given they nearly drew -- and could easily have lost -- a game they were favourites for.
It was a close shave that was not lost on coach Gavin Lee, who did not take long in his post-match news conference to acknowledge that his team had not met expectations with their display.
"I've said the first game is always tricky and I think we saw that," said the Singapore coach.
"I haven't really had the appetite to enjoy or be happy with the win. The boys are aware that we're definitely not proud of the peformances. In many phases, we were not good enough.
"Sometimes it's good to start with three points and then take the lessons to come for Monday [their next game against Timor-Leste]."
The Lions certainly looked like they would indeed be headed for victory when they found themselves leading by a solitary goal at the break.
Having already threatened twice previously, including having a goal ruled out for offside, Shawal Anuar -- who got the nod ahead of Ilhan to lead the line from the start -- duly broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute.
Timing his run to perfection to race through onto Lionel Tan's incisive through-pass, Shawal had a tricky angle to negotiate but was -- quite literally -- given a helping hand by Hul Kimhuy -- as his rather centrally-directed effort was palmed by the Cambodia goalkeeper onto his near post and in.
But ten minutes into the second half, a rejuvenated Cambodia -- who looked far more threatening right from the restart -- stunned the visitors by equalising, eliciting an almighty roar from the majority of the 27,790 gathered at the stadium.
Singapore only have themselves to blame as they twice contrived to fully clear their lines after a cross from the right was swung into the area. The Cambodians eventually regained possession on the edge of the area -- where Phat Sokha cleverly found opposite fullback Ouk Sovann, who had been left unmarked and proceeded to send an emphatic finish past Izwan Mahbud into the top corner.
It was now anyone's game to win and both sides showed the endeavour of two teams who knew that anything less than a win would be a massive blow to their hopes of reaching the last four even at this early stage of the competition.
Singapore showed more thought in the way they manufactured their openings but Cambodia arguably looked the more dangerous with their direct approach, especially on the counterattack.
Both Izwan and Kimhuy had to make crucial interventions to prevent their respective sides from falling behind, before it looked as though Singapore had forced a winner in the 88th minute after a goalmouth scramble led to Ilhan pouncing on a loose ball to net from two yards out.
Nonetheless, there was immediately a suspicion of offside yet it took an excruciatingly-lengthy VAR review -- which lasted almost eight minutes -- before it was adjudged that it had been an illegal impediment on Kimhuy that was the reason to rule out the strike.
It looked like the Lions' final chance to snatch the three points had evaporated. Yet, the prolonged halt to proceedings meant there was still plenty of time even though the original six minutes of added time had elapsed.
And in the 101st minute, a right-wing rampage starting from the halfway line by another Singapore substitute in Song Ui-Young saw him reach the edge of the area before feeding ball to the feet of Ilhan, who ingeniously teed himself up before sending the most stunning of acrobatic volleys past Kimhuy's despairing dive into the far corner.
With another piece of brilliance from their 23-year-old magic man, Singapore claimed yet another crucial victory.
