Back in 2007, the Lions won Southeast Asia’s biggest prize for the third time after seeing off Thailand 3-2 on aggregate in the final. After recording a 2-1 win in the first leg in Singapore, Radojko Avramovic’s men travelled to Bangkok and held the War Elephants to a 1-1 draw at the Suphachalasai Stadium to be crowned champions of the region. Fast forward five years and Singapore are once again in Bangkok with the Suzuki Cup up for grabs, holding a 3-1 lead from Wednesday’s first leg at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Although it has been half a decade, seven members of that victorious 2007 side are present in the current squad, including Mustafic, captain Shahril Ishak, forward Khairul Amri and defenders Baihakki Khaizan and Daniel Bennett, who are all expected to start in Saturday’s return encounter at the Suphachalasai Stadium. On the other hand, Thailand’s last victory came a decade again in 2002 and Mustafic is hoping his side can use all of their experience to emerge triumphant again.
