ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024: Singapore vs. Timor-Leste Preview
Hanoi: As the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 continues, Singapore will be eager to make it two wins out of two matches when they face Timor-Leste at Hang Day Stadium this Saturday. The Singaporeans enter the match after securing a hard-fought 2-1 win over Cambodia in their opening Group A fixture, while Timor-Leste will be riding high on the back of an impressive performance against Malaysia.
Singapore's victory over Cambodia, although narrow, showcased their resilience. After racing into a two-goal lead through Faris Ramli and Shawal Anuar—both benefiting from errors by Cambodia’s goalkeeper Vireak Dara—Tsutomu Ogura’s side appeared to be cruising. However, Cambodia mounted a second-half comeback with Sieng Chanthea pulling one back, making the final stages of the match tense. Despite this, the Singapore defense held firm to secure the three points, putting them in a strong position ahead of their encounter with Timor-Leste.
Looking ahead to the Timor-Leste clash, Singapore will be favored to claim back-to-back victories, with a potential semi-final spot in their sights. The Lions' aim is to reach the last four for the first time since the 2020 edition, and another win here would bring them one step closer.
On the other hand, Timor-Leste will be buoyed by their impressive showing against Malaysia, despite falling short in a 3-2 defeat. After a heavy 10-0 loss to Thailand in their opening match, the Timorese came into their own against Malaysia. They shocked the Southeast Asian giants by leading 2-1 at halftime, with goals from Olagar Xavier and captain Joao Pedro. However, Malaysia’s Paulo Josue netted twice late in the second half, dashing Timor-Leste’s hopes of a historic win.
Under coach Simon Elissetche, Timor-Leste will once again be the underdogs but will be determined to build on their strong performance against Malaysia and secure their first-ever point in the ASEAN Championship.
Historically, Singapore has dominated this fixture. In their previous two encounters, the Lions emerged victorious in commanding fashion, with a 6-1 win in 2018 and a 2-0 triumph in 2021. However, Timor-Leste's recent display suggests they are growing stronger, and they will be hoping to spring an upset this time around.
