Indonesia started the sharper; cutting off Singapore's attempts to play out from the back; and from one of those instances; the dynamic Witan Sulaeman shrugged off Safuwan Baharudin's challenge to square for Ezra Walian to score the first.
Things started to look bleak for Singapore when Safuwan Baharudin - already on a dubious yellow for a non-foul - was red-carded after getting involved in an ugly exchange with Indonesia's Rizky Ridho. It was a Rizky manoeuvre to say the least. But the drama was only getting started as Shahdan Sulaiman's free-kick was mis-cued by the Indonesia defence; only for Song Ui-Young to tuck home.
Both benches started getting over-excited; with over-dramatic celebrations the core of the day. But the drama was only getting started. Indonesia came off looking bewildered how they were not leading; and they started the second half looking eager to re-establish their presence.
But as the second half progressed; you could sense this was not going the way they wanted it. They started looking more desperate; too keen to go for the killer blow too soon; and it was Singapore who started feeling the confidence. So much so that coach Tatsuma Yoshida made the great play of sending on his three attackers Ikhsan Fandi; Shawal Anuar & Faris Ramli to change the momentum of the game. Suddenly the game changed; as Singapore released their three pacy attackers; leading to Anuar's impudent chip that just went wide of the Indonesian goal.
You could sense Indonesia were getting worried; their passes were going astray; their shots more from long-distance; and they were making needless fouls./And from one of those; up stepped Singapore's set-piece specialist Shahdan Sulaiman to curl a brilliant free-kick into the corner for a dream lead.
Nine-man Singapore were somehow ahead; and Indonesia's confidence was draining before our eyes. With the crowds almost spilling into the seats; Singapore played like men possessed; harrying & blocking everything in sight. And it was only three minutes from the end that Indonesia finally found the equalizer; left-back Pratama coolly slotting home after another instinctive Hassan Sunny save.
There was still more drama to come; as Singapore refused to give up; and won a last-ditch penalty when Pratama himself lunged out at Anuar in a desperation tackle. Alas; Faris Ramli missed the penalty kick after a brilliant save from goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata.
In extra-time; both teams still had all to play for; but a calamitous own-goal from Anuar himself in the opening minure set the scene for Indonesia's victory. At the end; a rare mistake from Sunny allowed another Indonesian substitute Egy Maulana to score their fourth; and it was game over. Sunny himself became the third player sent off as he made a desperate challenge on Irfan Jaya; ending with Ikhsan Fandi going into goal.
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