AFGHANISTAN 2-1 SINGAPORE

Tehran: Afghanistan finished off their 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying campaign in Group E on a high after beating Singapore 2-1 at the Takhti Stadium on Tuesday.

An opportunistic strike from Khaibar Amani put the Afghans in front nine minutes before halftime, before Josef Shirdel came off the bench to make it 2-0 in the 79th minute.

Fazrul Nawaz pulled one back for Singapore with two minutes left on the clock but they had just left themselves with too much to do right at the end, as their opponents held on for the three points.

While the victory leaves Afghanistan fourth in Group E, they have advanced straight to the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers as one of the four best fourth-placed teams, with this victory over the Singaporeans proving to be a decisive one.

It was certainly a deserved reward considering the spirit and endeavour they showed on Thursday as they looked the part of the designated hosts, despite the game being played on neutral ground in Tehran.

Having made the brighter start of the two teams, Afghanistan first threatened in the 11th minute when Hassan Amin capitalised on a botched clearance by Zulfahmi Arifin, only for Hassan Sunny to rush off his line and deny him.

Kanischka Taher was the next to threaten seven minutes later when he tried to catch Hassan out at the near post with a freekick from the left, only to send it into the side-netting.

However, there was to be no denying them in the 36th minute after Lions defender Afiq Yunos, in a bid to head clear Zubayr Amiri’s dangerous cross, could only divert the ball to Amani, who made amends for a host of misses in their previous meeting, by finishing at the back post.

Petar Segrt’s charges continued their dominant ways in the second half and, after wasting a couple of opportunities, edged further ahead in the 79th minute; Taher trapping a high ball into the path of substitute Shirdel, who calmly stabbed his shot past Hassan.

To their credit, Singapore did muster a response nine minutes later when Safuwan Baharudin climbed high at the far post to nod Christopher van Huizen’s corner back into the six-yard box, where Fazrul proceeded to prod it over the line from a yard out.

But ultimately, it was Afghanistan who had done more to deserve the victory, and they ultimately were able to see out the remainder of the contest and claim an important three points.