It may lack the global resonance of higher profile international rivalries like England versus Scotland, Argentina versus Brazil or Germany versus Netherlands, but make no mistake, Singapore versus Malaysia ticks all the boxes when it comes to national pride.
They’re near neighbors, which helps, of course. There are linguistic and cultural links and a bit of tension thrown in as well, with nationalist voices being raised on either side of the causeway once in a while.
There is also the shared legacy of British colonial rule. It was the British who introduced football and who set up the Malaysia Cup, possibly the oldest football competition in this part of the world.
Singapore was part of the Malaysia Cup until 1994, and even now, only Selangor has won the famous old trophy more often. Those Malaysia Cup days have taken on an almost mythical status among Singaporeans, many of whom pine for a return to the days of big crowds, the Kallang Roar and glory.
Ask Singaporeans about their greatest moment following their team and they will probably mention Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor in 1994 when the Lions, unfancied before the season began, defeated Pahang 4-0 in the final, Singapore’s first success in more than a decade.
Singapore withdrew from the Malaysia Cup after its 1994 triumph to set up its own professional S-League. Since then it has won the Asean Football Federation Cup three times.
Malaysian football, meanwhile, was in the doldrums for some time, until the national side won the Southeast Asian Games in 2009 and the AFF Cup 12 months later.
The build-up to the 2014 World Cup qualifier first leg at the 6,000-seat Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Saturday night showed memories are long in Lion City. Tickets were snapped up within hours of going on sale with fans even lining up overnight, something unheard of in recent years for a domestic game.
About 1,000 Malaysian fans traveled down for the game, adding to the color and atmosphere inside the packed stadium. After 25 seconds, they were rewarded for making the trip as a slip-up in the Singapore defense allowed striker Mohd Safee Sali to pounce and give Malaysia a shock lead.
But from then on Singapore was in total control. Shi Jiayi equalized from a free kick, then Aleksander Duric, M. Fahruddin and Qiu Li each scored to give Singapore a seemingly commanding 4-1 lead at halftime.
It seemed unlikely that the second half could match the passion and intensity of the opening 45 minutes, but it did. Two red cards and two quick-fire Malaysian goals later, with more than 30 minutes on the clock, Singapore suddenly faced a battle.
The action switched from one end to the other as both sides went all out. Several hundred fans sat on a field outside the stadium watching on big screens, oohing and aahing along with the lucky fans inside.
Duric finally gave Singapore a cushion in the 80th minute, making it 5-3 for the hosts.
And that’s how it ended. After the game both coaches remarked on what a spectacle it had been, but they were being polite. Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic, as is the manner of coaches everywhere, bemoaned the defense for conceding three goals at home.
More than 80,000 fans are expected to fill Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday for the second leg, with a couple of thousand Singaporeans expected to make the trip across.
The tie is far from over.
Avramovic’s glumness at the post-match press conference perhaps suggests who the favorite for the next leg is.
When you play poorly yet still score three goals away from home you can’t help but feel Malaysia has the slightest of edges.
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