In Bukit Jalil, a Lion dance to savour Once again, Singapore qualifies for third round

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KUALA LUMPUR - Hands shooting up into the air, all at once Singapore's Lions broke into dance on the Bukit Jalil green. But it was not before a firecracker shot out of the stands that it became clear what had actually happened.

Referee Takayama Hiroyoshi had already blown the final whistle to signal the end of the match, a 1-1 draw with Malaysia sending Radojko Avramovic's charges into the third round of World Cup qualification for the second consecutive time, after Singapore's debut at the last qualifiers.

The angry clap of another firecracker sent the Lions into a dancing frenzy as water bottles came raining down from the three-tiered Bukit Jalil stands like confetti.

Livid Malaysian fans continued to boo and hurl one bottle after another, but the Lions continued their prance out on the pitch, unfettered, even hurling Avramovic up into the air.

It has been a wretched time for all in the Singapore football fraternity, a limp AFF Suzuki Cup campaign last year saw the Lions crash out in the group stages to end a torrid 2010, a year that saw both fans and belief abandon the team.

But a World Cup qualifier against defending SEA Games and ASEAN champions, Malaysia provided the ideal stage for redemption, and the Lions finally started to dance in harmony to the rhythm of Serb tactician Avramovic.

An imperious attacking performance with Hariss Harun and Mustafic Fahrudin in perfect sync in the midfield brought a 5-3 win at the Jalan Besar Stadium last Saturday, but the backline appeared wobbly.

Last night the Lions slinked flawlessly on the green, easing from defence to attack, led by the old heads, with the young ones falling in step and showing glimpses of future stardom.

Aleksandar Duric was a mammoth in attack, pegging the Malaysian defence back, and winning one header after another.

It was his flicked header that set Shi Jiayi free to slot home the equaliser in the 72nd minute after Safee Sali had given Malaysia hope, scoring with a crisp shot 13 minutes into the second half.

Daniel Bennett made amends for a poor first leg showing, standing tall in defence alongside 19-year-old Safuwan Baharudin, who played like a seasoned pro, as did 21-year-old goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud.

Carrying a knee injury, Juma'at Jantan took one knock after another, but he soldiered on, still enough in the tank to break out into dance at the final whistle.

The result will see Singapore again play at the top table of Asian football against Japan, Korea and the Middle East nations in the third round of qualifiers, a draw in 2014 World Cup host nation Brazil tomorrow deciding Singapore's opponent in this group stage.

The top two teams in each group will go on to play in the fourth round, another group stage where the top two from each pool will qualify for the Brazil finals in 2014.

"Everyone was disciplined and played their best, they've really done tremendously," said Avramovic, who will create history when he leads out the Lions to their second appearance at this stage, after he masterminded the first four years ago.

Led by Duric and Bennett, the team emerged from the dressing room after the Malaysian fans had left the stadium to greet the travelling Singaporeans.

In the cavernous Bukit Jalil Stadium, now echoing with tunes of Singapore chants, the Lions danced again.