Lee's Singapore host Indonesia in ASEAN group decider
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- Singapore sit second in Group A with seven points and are unbeaten in three games — wins over Cambodia (2-1) and Timor-Leste (2-0) plus a 0-0 draw away to Vietnam — and need only to avoid defeat against Indonesia on Friday to advance to the semi-finals.
- Indonesia are third with six points after a 0-3 defeat to defending champions Vietnam, and must win Friday's match to progress, per the source.
- Gavin Lee, Singapore's head coach, told reporters his side will play "calm and measured" and will be "clever enough" to make decisions in late-game situations rather than letting the "situation or outcome" affect their play.
- John Herdman, Indonesia's head coach and former Canada coach at the 2022 World Cup, described his team as "wounded and hungry," saying "this opportunity slips through your fingers and never comes back" if they fail.
- Indonesia's squad still features Sandy Walsh, Jordi Amat and Thom Haye despite missing key players; Indonesia have qualified for next year's Asian Cup alongside Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore and reached the fourth round of Asian World Cup qualifiers — the deepest Southeast Asian run.
- Marc Klok, Indonesia midfielder, said "the strongest way to show the identity of a team is to be able to bounce back when it's hard."
Why it matters: For Singapore, a draw sends them to the semi-finals at home in front of a sell-out crowd; for Indonesia, only a win advances them after their 0-3 collapse to defending champions Vietnam, with Herdman's squad facing a knockout-style test before a hostile full house.
