LUCKY WIN FOR CHAMPS IN FRIENDLY

In the tie which was known as Tiger Challenge Trophy, the islanders were held to a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation and where it required penalties to decide the winner.

But it was obvious that the side headed by Radojko Avramovic still have a lot of work to do considering that the 2-2 draw do not speak volume for a side looking to defend their title when the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 kicks off next month.

Incidentally, this is the second time the two sides have met in less than two months following their scoreless stalemate in Hanoi in October.

In the match that was attended by less than 2,500 spectators, it was Singapore who had the first real look at goal when a grounder from striker Mohd Noh Alam Shah tested Vietnam keeper Duong Hong in the 11th minute.

Ten minutes later, Duong Hong was again in the thick of the action to deny Shi Jiayi.

Vietnam captain Nguyen Minh Phuong then had a double chance in the 29th and 33rd minute but Singapore custodian Hassan Sunny was equal to the task.

But in the 39th minute, John Wilkinson finally broke the deadlock when he headed in a good cross Jiayi for the lead as Vietnam then fought back with the equaliser two minutes later off a penalty from striker
Le Cong Vinh.

The substitution for Aleksandr Duric, Ridhuan and Ismail Yunos in place of Alam Shah, Indra Sahdan Daud and Noh Rahman failed to disrupt Vietnam after the break.

And while Agu Casimir did put Singapore in front in the 78th minute,
Vietnam did not give up as Phan Van Tai then slammed home the well-deserved equaliser.

In the penalty shootout, Singapore keeper Lionel Lewis emerged as the hero for the Lions when he saved a penalty from Le Phuoc Tu for the 5-4 victory.