In a closely contested AFC Asian Cup Qualifier clash, visiting Singapore took a slender lead over Bangladesh, thanks to a scrappy yet opportunistic strike from forward Song Ui Young late in the first half.
The goal, arriving in the 45th minute, stemmed indirectly from a long throw-in by Ryhan Stewart. The Bangladesh goalkeeper failed to properly deal with the delivery, managing only to parry it into the path of an opposition player, who lofted it goalwards. Song Ui Young found himself perfectly placed to capitalise, tapping into an open net from the left side after the ball had been helped on by Stewart in a crowded penalty area.
It was a just reward for Singapore, who had steadily grown into the game after an early barrage of pressure from the hosts. Bangladesh had started brightly, with debutant Shamit Shome standing out in midfield. The Canadian-born midfielder was a constant creative outlet, setting up promising chances for both Rakib Hossain and Fahamedul Islam. Despite his efforts, however, Bangladesh failed to find the breakthrough.
Fahamedul, lively on the left wing, impressed with his energy and direct running but lacked end product in key moments. Rakib Hossain, leading the line, mirrored that pattern—plenty of endeavour, but without the decisive finish. Hamza Choudhury, marshalling the midfield, looked composed throughout and went close from a first-half free-kick, though his effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.
There was a moment of concern for Bangladesh as defender Tariq Kazi picked up a minor shoulder injury. Nevertheless, he soldiered on, continuing to provide stability at the back.
For Singapore, Ryhan Stewart was a standout performer, constantly troubling the Bangladeshi defence with his relentless work rate. Their talisman, Ikhsan Fandi, found himself locked in a physical battle with Topu Barman and was yet to make a significant impact by half-time. Still, the striker managed a few threatening moments, including a 36th-minute attempt which forced a strong save from Marma.
Earlier, in the 24th minute, Fandi had the best opportunity of the match at that point, breaking through down the right, only to hit the side netting. It was a warning sign of things to come as Singapore began to wrest control from the hosts.
As the second half beckons, Bangladesh will hope to make better use of their attacking forays, while Singapore look to protect their narrow advantage and possibly build on it. The match remains finely poised, with both sides showing plenty of promise.