Tiger Cup victory for Lions
By Tay Cheng Khoon
DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR
TWO first-half goals sealed the Tiger Cup for Singapore at the National Stadium last night.
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This is the second time Singapore have won the biennial soccer tournament for the Asean region, the first being in 1998 when they beat hosts Vietnam 1-0.
Last night's victory was more emphatic and comfortable.
Leading 3-1 after the first-leg final in Jakarta a week ago, Singapore did a double over Indonesia, winning 2-1 yesterday for a 5-2 aggregate victory. They won US$100,000 (S$163,000).
The 55,000 capacity crowd, almost all in red tops, did not have to wait long to let rip the Kallang Roar.
Striker Indra Sahdan Daud, showing hunger after not starting the last three matches, showed poise and confidence to capitalise on a defensive error to score from outside the penalty box in the sixth minute.
That effectively killed whatever hopes the Indonesians had of overcoming the first-leg deficit.
And, when Agu Casmir converted a 41st-minute penalty - after Indra was brought down - it was only a question of waiting for the referee to blow the final whistle for the party to start.
In the meantime, the fans, including President S R Nathan and two Cabinet ministers, celebrated with the Kallang Wave and Roar.
Said President Nathan after presenting the trophy to skipper Aide Iskandar: 'I thoroughly enjoyed the game. The teams were evenly matched and it was Singapore's greater determination that tipped the balance.'