PUBLISHED ONAugust 17, 2026 12:15 PMBYShafiq ApandiSingapore knows what is required in Bangkok on Tuesday (Aug 18), but coach Gavin Lee does not want his players to become consumed by the two-goal deficit they must overturn against Thailand in the second leg of their ASEAN Championship semi-final.
The world No. 148 Lions trail the record seven-time champions 3-1 after Saturday's defeat at Jalan Besar Stadium and need to win by two goals at Rajamangala Stadium to force extra time, while a victory by three or more would send them through after 90 minutes.
Lee said on Monday (Aug 17) that focusing solely on chasing the required scoreline could create unnecessary stress, particularly if the match does not initially unfold in Singapore's favour.
Instead, his priority is for the Lions to produce a much-improved performance after being dissatisfied with aspects of their display in the first leg.
That will require Singapore to solve one of the biggest problems they encountered at Jalan Besar: they conceded three times despite enjoying the majority of possession.
Teerasak Poeiphimai struck twice inside the opening 26 minutes before Seksan Ratree added a third shortly after half-time, with Thailand repeatedly finding space when Singapore were caught out of shape.
"So the question is, why do we still concede so many goals with that much possession?" said Lee.
Lee said Singapore had worked on closing the spaces Thailand exploited while also finding ways to create more opportunities going forward.
That balance will be critical with the Lions needing goals but unable to afford a repeat of the defensive lapses that left them vulnerable to Thailand's counter-attacks.
Ilhan Fandi, though, believes the situation is one Singapore should embrace rather than fear.
"What's life without challenges, right?" he said.
The 23-year-old provided Singapore's biggest source of optimism in the opening leg when his 84th-minute strike reduced Thailand's advantage from three goals to two.
It was also the first goal the War Elephants had conceded at this year's tournament.
"If Thailand can score two, why can't we score two or three?" said Ilhan.
"I'm very motivated for the game tomorrow. I'm going to go all out, and yeah, just can't wait."
Singapore have shown they can come from behind during Lee's tenure, and Ilhan said the squad's fighting spirit gave him confidence that another turnaround was possible.
Thailand, meanwhile, are not planning to simply protect their advantage.
Coach Anthony Hudson said earlier on Monday that the hosts intend to approach the second leg with intensity and the ambition to win, despite carrying a two-goal cushion back to Rajamangala.
"We have to approach this game like it's nil-nil, and start with intensity and with the absolute ambition to win the game," he said.
Hudson is also expected to freshen up his side after regularly rotating players throughout the tournament.
Singapore will therefore have to be prepared for a slightly different Thailand line-up while maintaining the discipline that Lee felt was missing at crucial moments in the first leg.
Yet the Singapore coach does not want his players to panic if the breakthrough does not come early.
"As long as there's still a minute left to play, we will never give in," he said.
The Singapore coach pointed to his side's ability to score goals in quick succession and stressed that they must remain clear in their decision-making even as the clock runs down.
The Lions are also drawing motivation from the response of their supporters after Saturday's defeat.
The Jalan Besar crowd continued singing even when Singapore were three goals down, before Ilhan's late effort gave them something tangible to carry into Bangkok.
Lee said the players had taken heart from that backing, while Ilhan felt it demonstrated the growing connection between the national side and its supporters
"Singapore is a football country. You know, we're not just a country that's wanting to participate, we want to compete," said Ilhan.
He stressed, however, that the motivation to rescue the semi-final must begin within the team rather than come from outside expectations.
“Because if you go into the game thinking that you can’t turn it around, you might as well stay at home,” he said.
For Lee, the extended time his players have spent together during the tournament could also prove important.
He said the group had developed a stronger understanding of one another and a sense of unity that would be needed in a difficult situation at Rajamangala.
Singapore have lost their last 11 meetings with Thailand and have not beaten the War Elephants since their 2012 ASEAN Championship final triumph.
But the immediate arithmetic is now more important than the historical record.
Supporters back home will be able to follow the Lions' comeback bid at watch parties across Singapore.
A two-goal Singapore victory will take the semi-final beyond 90 minutes, while a win by three or more will send the Lions into the final.
Anything less will bring their campaign to an end.
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