The Singapore Lions brought the roar back to the Jalan Besar Stadium and went top of the table in Group D of the World Cup qualifiers as they overcame Palestine 2-1.
With Yemen holding Saudi Arabia 2-2 in another clash later in the evening, the Lions completed the international break at the top of the pile with four points from two matches, and remained unbeaten.
The Jalan Besar Stadium was also packed to the max as 6011 fans filled up the venue, the first time the stadium had been filled up since the Suzuki Cup final against Thailand in 2012.
The Football Association of Singapore announced hours before the match that all tickets had been snapped up and sold out.
The Lions, playing in high tempo from the word go, scored with only minutes on the clock after Shakir Hamzah’s swipe off the outside of his boot. It was his third international goal in a Lions jersey.
The advantage was cancelled out just ten minutes later after Yaseer Hamed levelled the score after some poor defending at the back.
But Safuwan Baharudin rose up to nod home the winner just before the break, which ended up the winner for the night.
Fans celebrated, with the Singamania fans at the opposite end of the Grandstand leading the stadium in a rendition of Majulah Singapura after the final whistle.
Lions coach Tatsuma Yoshida thanked the fans for filling up the Jalan Besar Stadium after the match. He said, “We got the three points because of the support. There was a really good mood in the stadium and it allowed us to get a good start. I am really very happy but tomorrow, we will focus on the next games.”
The Lions will take on Saudi Arabia in their next match on 10 October in Riyadh before facing off against Uzbekistan at the National Stadium five days later.
Photos: FAS