The loss also means that Singapore’s unbeaten streak at the Jalan Besar Stadium came to an end. Before Thursday, Singapore’s last loss at the 6,000-seater venue was in 2017 against Chinese Taipei.
Thursday’s game was played at the Jalan Besar Stadium instead of the 55,000-capacity National Stadium following a late tournament schedule change by organisers.
This meant that the National Stadium was unavailable for this match and the rest of the tournament, having already been booked for concerts during this period.
It was the home side’s turn to put the ball in the back of the net in the 61st minute but Shawal’s finish was deemed offside after he was played through by the energetic Hami Syahin.
Singapore came agonisingly close minutes later but the fingertips of the Vietnamese goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu denied substitute Taufik Suparno.
Vietnam were not without threat though, as a superb chip from Nguyen Tien Linh beat Izwan but flew just wide.
