AYG Football: Singapore and Philippines share spoils in curtain raiser

Story by Gerald Goh/Red Sports. Pictures by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports.

Jalan Besar Stadium, Saturday, June 27, 2009 - A Singapore Selection and the Philippines played out a 2-2 draw in a curtain raiser for the Asian Youth Games football tournament.

The Philippines football team was quarantined after one player was diagnosed H1N1 positive shortly after they arrived in Singapore.

They were released from quarantine yesterday and the AYG organisers decided to give them a game against a Singapore Selection side so that they at least got a game in Singapore before they left for home.

In a game littered with a host of missed chances for both sides, the stalemate meant that both teams were presented with the 1st AYG Friendship Cup.

Singapore started the more brightly of both sides, with forward Adam Bin Swandi creating a host of chances. However, Philippines' danger on the counter-attack became rudely apparent for the hosts in the 16th minute, as Genco Carmelo Vicente drove past his marker before unleashing a looping 20-yarder that beat Singapore custodian Elfi Shahrul Bin Salan at full stretch.

Singapore's reply was immediate, as Adam put Irfan clean through on goal, only to have the Philippines' keeper Golez John Mark deny a certain goal with his legs. Elfi then brought down Genco in the area barely a minute later, but referee Johan Johari waved away penalty appeals.

Adam proved to be a constant menace for the Filipinos, as he smashed a close-range belter at Golez, who had to be alert to beat it away with both fists.

Singapore's equaliser duly arrived in the 30th minute, as Adam deftly side-stepped a challenge in the box to see his effort squirm out of Golez's fingers into goal, taking the score to 1-1.

Golez was spared a second embarrassment six minutes later as he weakly tipped Adam's shot onto the crossbar, before Irfan sent another shot narrowly wide as Singapore pressed their advantage.

Singapore continued laying siege to the Philippines' goal in the second half, with Golez having to save three shots in quick succession. However, the Filipinos gradually restricted the Singaporeans to speculative shots from outside the box.

Slack defending in the 78th minute allowed the Philippines' Clavano Luisito Jr. to steal in between two defenders and place a cross past Elfi Shahrul into the bottom left corner, putting the Filipinos 2-1 up.

With the Singapore players rapidly running out of steam under the blazing afternoon sun, Mohammed Muhelmy Bin Suhaimi sent in a precision cross for Mohammed Khairy Shulaimy Bin Jumari, anonymous in the first half, to beat Golez with a bullet header at his near post.

Despite a late surge of Singapore attacks, with the home fans roaring their side on, the match finished 2-2.

Singapore Youth Coach Abdullah Noor praised his charges for their efforts in the match, noting that their creative ability and the fact that they could only get better. "We had a short notice of 2 ½ days to prepare for the game, (so) it's a credit and honour to the boys."