Fandi, Singapore's top scorer in the tournament, has 4 goals, matching Teerasak Poeiphimai of Thailand and trailing Nguyen Dinh Bac of Vietnam by one goal. His recent goal, scored late in the 1-3 first-leg semifinal loss to Thailand at Jalan Besar Stadium on 15/8, offers a glimmer of hope for his team in tonight's second leg at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

During the pre-match press conference on the afternoon of 17/8, Ilhan declared that Singapore comprises warriors ready to fight with all their might, whether for 90 or 120 minutes. "What is life without challenges? We thrive on them", the 2002-born striker stated. "You cannot lose motivation, even when down 2-0. If we don't believe we can overturn Thailand, we might as well stay home".

Striker Ilhan Fandi (19) celebrates his 84th-minute goal during Singapore's 1-3 loss to Thailand in the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal first leg, at Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore on 15/8. *Photo: ThailandNT*

The team's fervent fan support also provides added motivation. Ilhan Fandi aims to atone for the first-leg defeat and deliver a performance worthy of their recent backing.

Meanwhile, coach Gavin Lee advises players not to over-focus on the outcome, which could create undue pressure. He believes much can unfold over 90 minutes on the road, citing their previous comeback where they scored two goals in three minutes to beat Hong Kong 2-1 in the Asian Cup 2027 final qualifiers. The team also welcomes back Korean-born midfielder Song Ui-yong from suspension.

Lee emphasized that Singapore has never employed a defensive strategy, regardless of whether they face Thailand, Vietnam, or China. Instead, they adapt their tactics to different game phases. In the semifinal first leg, Singapore's lapse in concentration and inferior individual quality were evident against Thailand. Yet, they surprisingly maintained 72% ball possession.

"The question is why Singapore conceded so many goals despite significant possession", Gavin noted. "We must find our own answers to improve our defense and generate more scoring opportunities".

Thailand continues to pose a formidable challenge for Singapore. Singapore has lost their last 11 encounters against Thailand, a streak dating back to December 2012. Moreover, the Southeast Asian tournament has no precedent for a team overturning a two-goal first-leg deficit. Historically, across 33 semifinal and final matchups from 2004 to 2024, only 5 times has a team trailing after the first leg mounted a successful second-leg comeback to win overall.