7:00 p.m. tonight, first leg of Singapore-Thailand final: Home team wants to win, away team wants a draw

The confrontation between the two most successful teams in Southeast Asia promises to be a thrilling final match. Therefore, whether they are the host team or the other team, neither Thailand nor Singapore want to be the losers.

On the way to the final, Thailand was the team that maintained an unbeaten streak. Although Singapore was inferior after losing 0-1 to Indonesia in the group stage, the Lion Island team still won Group B before overcoming the Philippines in the semi-finals.

"Our goal is to win or at least have a draw in Singapore," Thailand coach Winfried Schaefer coldly declared before kick-off.

Thailand wants to get at least 1 point on Singapore's field. Photo: AFF

"I believe we will bring home a good result. If we avoid defeat in Singapore, it will be an advantage for the second leg and a great chance for Thailand to be crowned champions in Bangkok on Saturday," he added.

Besides Teerasil Dangda, the striker who scored 5 goals, the key to the Thai team's attacking style is midfielder Datsakorn Thonglao.

The midfielder is still recovering from an injury and coach Winfried Schaefer will have to wait until a technical meeting this morning to decide whether to let Datsakorn Thonglao play or not. However, the home team Singapore will not be sad if Thonglao has to miss the first leg of the final.

On Goal.com, former Singaporean player Aide Iskandar said the key to the home team's victory is to block the visiting team's conductor Thonglao.

In recent years, Thonglao has not only become famous as a midfielder with a technical style of play and precise passes, but also for his cunning. The collision with Fadhli Shas in the second leg of the semi-final that resulted in the Malaysian midfielder receiving a second yellow card and leaving the field is proof of this.

"I think the most important thing for the Thai team is to keep calm. We need to stop Datsakorn, who creates the connection in Thailand's attacks. But more importantly, we must not fall into our own trap and must be really careful in low ball situations," Aide analyzed.

On the Singapore side, captain Shahril Ishak, who has also scored four goals so far, said: "Like Thailand, we also have a combination of veterans and young players. I think this is a really exciting final between the two best teams in the tournament this year.

For me personally, the final matches for the national team at Jalan Besar Stadium had a very special meaning. I had two very special matches, enjoying important moments in the final."

Within just 3 hours on Sunday, December 17, tickets for the first leg of the final were sold out because Jalan Besar Stadium has limited capacity, with only 7,500 tickets sold.

For his part, Datsakorn Thonglao said he wanted to win the Southeast Asian championship with the Thai team after two defeats in 2007 and 2008.

The midfielder of MuangThong United Club was also the one who and the Thai team could not get past the group stage of the tournament 2 years ago.

"I have never won the AFF Cup, it is a sad memory in my career and I want to do that in this year's tournament."

Thailand or Singapore, whichever team wins this year will set a record as the only team to win the Southeast Asian championship four times up to 2012.

According to Thehthaovanhoa - DT