Vientiane: Singapore will look to make it two wins from two in the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 when they take on a Laos side aiming to pick up their first points in Group B when the teams meet at National Stadium KM16 on Tuesday.

Having sat out the opening round of fixtures, Singapore played their first game of the 2022 edition on Saturday and were made to work hard for the three points by visitors Myanmar.

Having suffered a major blow in star striker Ikhsan Fandi being ruled out of the tournament just before it got underway, the Lions then fell behind to Myanmar at Jalan Besar Stadium.

But goals from Ikhsan’s brother, Ilhan, and Shah Shahiran put the hosts 2-1 up before Shawal Anuar scored the winner with a little over 15 minutes to play after the visitors had levelled proceedings.

The victory leaves Takayuki Nishigaya’s side well-placed ahead of their trip to Vientiane to face a side that have suffered back-to-back heavy defeats and are currently propping up the standings.

Laos began their campaign with a 6-0 loss against Vietnam in Vientiane before going down 5-0 to Malaysia on Saturday. If there are any positives for Michael Weiss’s side to take into the clash with the Lions, it’s that they kept both games tight in the first half.

Indeed, Malaysia led by just a goal until the 65th minute at Bukit Jalil National Stadium before ultimately the Harimau Malaya proved too strong and ran out big winners.

In a competition that sees Southeast Asia’s sides regularly face off, it’s perhaps surprising that the game in the Laotian capital marks the first time they have met since the 2012 edition.

Back then it was the Lions who ran out 4-3 winners in an entertaining contest that saw the Singaporeans twice fall behind before Fazrul Nawaz ultimately scored the decisive goal.

Indeed, the time the met prior to that game marked one of the most memorable moments in the AFF Championship’s history as Noh Alam Shah posted an incredible seven-goal haul in Singapore’s record 11-0 victory.

Both times, Singapore went on to lift the title and, in what is perhaps a good omen, in each of the four times the Lions have been crowned champions, they have defeated Laos in the group stage.