Singapore vs Malaysia: 5 memorable football clashes

SINGAPORE — It was 64 years ago when Singapore and Malaysia played their first official competitive football match.

Malaysia had become an independent nation in 1957, and organised an annual friendly football competition called the Merdeka Tournament. Singapore and Malaysia did not face each other in the inaugural event, but played out a 0-0 draw in the 1958 edition.

It would mark the start of a fierce football rivalry between these neighbouring countries, particularly after Singapore split from Malaysia to become an independent nation in 1965.

Of the 78 times they faced each other since that 1958 match, Singapore have won 25 times, Malaysia were victors in 22 matches, while 31 were drawn. These clashes were typically highly-charged affairs, and there were resounding victories as well as humbling defeats for both the Lions and Harimau Malaya (Malayan Tigers).

Ahead of the 79th Singapore vs Malaysia clash - a FAS Tri-Nations Series international friendly on Saturday (26 March) - here are five of the most memorable matches:

Singapore 1 Malaysia 0 (FIFA World Cup qualifier, National Stadium, 6 March 1977)

Surprisingly, of the 14 times the FIFA World Cup was held since both countries became independent, Singapore and Malaysia were involved in head-to-head qualifying clashes in only three editions: 1978, 1990 and 2014.

Undoubtedly, the biggest World Cup qualifying clash between these two sides was the first one, as over 60,000 fans descended onto the old National Stadium at Kallang to witness a gripping match between two flamboyant teams.

Both sides were stacked with legends. The Lions had ball artists like Dollah Kassim, Quah Kim Song and S. Rajagopal, while the Tigers had stars like Soh Chin Aun, R. Arumugam and Santokh Singh. And the match was packed with drama - Singapore were awarded a dubious penalty, while Malaysia had a strong penalty appeal turned down and also a goal disallowed.

Those who were at the National Stadium would remember the match being decided by Mohamed Noh's spot kick, after Quah was brought down in the box.

Malaysia 3 Singapore 1 (SEA Games football final, Merdeka Stadium, 31 August 1989)

The one SEA Games honour that Singapore craves to win is the men's football gold medal, but it has eluded the Lions at every edition of the biennial Games. They were runners-up in 1983, 1985 and 1989, and while they were beaten by Thailand in the 1983 and 1985, in 1989 they faced Games hosts Malaysia at their Merdeka Stadium home ground in the gold-medal match.

It was a raucous atmosphere at the stadium, as Malaysia took an early lead courtesy of an own-goal by the late Borhan Abu Samah. However, Singapore great Fandi Ahmad equalised before half-time to set up an intriguing second half.

In the end, Malaysia ended Singapore hopes with two goals in two second-half minutes through Lim Teong Kim and Dollah Salleh, and sent its 45,000 fans wild with joy.

Singapore 0 Malaysia 4 (AFF Cup group stage, National Stadium, 18 December 2002)

One of the darkest nights in Singapore football. The Lions were hyped up as one of the favourites to win the 2002 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup, with renowned Danish coach Jan Poulsen at the helm together with naturalised talents Egmar Goncalves, Mirko Grabovac and Daniel Bennett.

Yet, for the 45,000 partisan fans at the old National Stadium and thousands more watching the live telecast in Singapore, it all turned into a nightmarish experience as Malaysia ran riot. Akmal Rizal, Nizaruddin Yusof and Indra Putra Mahayuddin (two goals) scored to bring the Lions to their knees, with the players tearfully apologised after the rout for their shocking capitulation.

Singapore ultimately crashed out of the tournament in the group stage, leading Poulsen to resign, and the nation to contemplate on how far they were from their "Goal 2010" ambition to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals.

Malaysia 0 Singapore 3 (AFF Cup group stage, Bukit Jalil Stadium, 25 November 2012)

Getting an away win in Malaysia's home stadium in Kuala Lumpur has often proved a tough task for Singapore, all the more so after the Tigers moved from their old Merdeka Stadium to their 90,000-seater Bukit Jalil Stadium. With a wall of noise generated by their home crowd, Malaysia were often able to intimidate their opponents even before the opening whistle.

So it was an astonishingly brave performance by the Lions when they went to Bukit Jalil for the 2012 AFF Cup group-stage tie, and exacted sweet revenge on Malaysia a decade after the 0-4 loss at National Stadium (see above).

Two goals from skipper Shahril Ishak and a late header by Aleksandar Duric gave the Lions a 3-0 win, and they eventually went all the way to win the AFF Cup as a perfect send-off present for departing head coach Raddy Avramovic. And, as assistant coach and former captain Aide Iskandar put it, "We sent the ghost back to Malaysia."

Singapore 1 Malaysia 3 (AFF Cup group stage, National Stadium, 29 November 2014)

Singapore also had a spanking-new National Stadium in 2014, when the ambitious dome-shaped centrepiece of the Singapore Sports Hub was unveiled in time for the AFF Cup group stage matches to be played at the end of the year.

Expectations were again high for the Lions to retain their AFF titles under reputable new head coach Bernd Stange, but a 1-2 loss to Thailand in their opening group match meant they had to avoid defeat by arch-rivals Malaysia in their final group game to advance to the semi-finals.

When Khairul Amri's 83rd-minute goal cancelled out Safee Sali's 61st-minute opener, it looked as if Singapore would be on their way, but Malaysia broke the hearts of the Lions and their fans as they scored two stoppage-time goals from Safiq Rahim and Lions' nemesis Indra Putra Mahayuddin to knock the hosts out of the competition.

It would be the last time the two sides would play at the National Stadium — until their friendly match this Saturday. Would it be revenge time again for the Lions?

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