Youth Olympic Football: Courageous Cubs stun Montenegro 3-2 to set up semi-final date with Haiti

Sensing a historic win on the cards, Singapore piled on the pressure and eventually found the winner through Brandon Koh. The Singapore Sports School student found the net five minutes before the final whistle before limping off right after the goal due to a shin injury.

A goalscoring opportunity had seemed over when Jovan Cadenovic (#6) tackled Hanafi just outside the box. However, a vigilant Brandon then picked up a poor back pass by Danilo Sarkic (#4) to nutmeg Montenegro’s keeper Kordic, making the home fans wild with ecstasy while Sarkic lay on the ground, clutching his face in frustration and embarrassment.

That goal broke Montenegro resistance. Despite four minutes of injury time, they failed to break through the stout Singapore defence.

Hanafi had a final chance right at the death to extend the lead but his tame shot from outside the box failed to trouble Kordic. Seconds later, Singapore 3-2 victory was sealed.

Montengro coach Sava Kovacevic was a livid man after the final whistle and claimed Singapore had “14 men” to help them to win the game, while the mood in the Singapore camp was a direct contrast.

“It was a great win,” said captain Jeffrey Lightfoot. “After going a goal down, I tried to spur up my boys to come back and I managed to score the goal. It was an ecstatic feeling.”

When asked whether the sending-off played a part in the win, he said: ”Yeah maybe, it gave us more space to work.”

“It was a great feeling to score in front of so many fans,” said Brandon Koh when asked about his heroic effort. “I didn’t expect so many to come and watch us. When I came out of the tunnel, It really gave me a shuddering feeling. It also meant a lot to know PM Lee was here as well. The win showed that Singapore has the next generation in football.”

Brandon had in fact picked up an injury 10 minutes before he scored the goal and decided against being substituted. Pointing to his bloodied shin, he said, “The guy (Montenegro player) came in too hard on me but I really want to do it for Singapore so I came back on to play.”

When asked about whether the injury will hamper his involvement in the next game, he said, ”No, I don’t think so. There are recovery centres in the village, so I will be able to play.”

A beaming Muhaimin, who scored the opener and is in contention to becoming the top scorer with three goals in his bag so far, said: “It was amazing, I really thank them (the home fans). Without them, we cannot achieve this. In the first game, it (the crowd) quite affected me but it was fine today.”

When asked about his experience taking on 1.92m tall Montenegro centre back Danilo Sarkic, he revealed his speed played a part.

“The guy’s like a building from behind! But I just try because he was slow,” he said.

When asked whether he is a marked man now with his goalscoring exploits, he answered: “I don’t know, I just want to play for Singapore. I don’t care if they mark me, I’ll just play.”

The Cubs coach Kadir Yahaya was a calm man despite the historic win, preferring to concentrate on the mistakes. The former national footballer shared: “It’s a good performance but they’re losing the ball too much in midfield and giving away free kicks in dangerous positions.”

“We’ll go game-by-game,” he added when asked about the upcoming semi-final. “We won’t underestimate Haiti We’ll still play with the same intensity that we have shown today.”

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, was a proud man when interviewed.

“It’s another great performance from the boys. What I saw was a really gutsy performance. Against bigger opponents, they never say die and gave a great fight. They showed superior teamwork and almost instinctive understanding,” said Dr Balakrishnan.

He added: “The fact that they’ve been playing for three years together, that really made the difference. It showed the long-terms fruits of the National Football Academy (NFA) that was started 10 years ago. Now is the stage where it is starting to harvest fruit. It showed that focusing youths and giving them long-term plans makes a difference.”

“I felt emotional,” said Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of MCYS. “I have watched this team since they were formed before the Asian Youth Games. Seeing the way they played tonight, fighting for every single ball and winning the game was truly inspirational. They showed what Singaporeans are made of and the fighting spirit in us. I am very proud of them. We should keep this team together for the long term.”

This victory meant Singapore have avoided taking on heavyweights Bolivia in the last four. Instead, they will take on Haiti in the semi-final scheduled on Sunday, August 22nd, 8.45pm at the same venue.

For Singapore fixtures and results, go to our 2010 YOG fixtures page

Final result
Singapore 3
Muhaimin Suhaimi (#17) – 3′
Jeffrey Adam Lightfoot (#5) – 35′
Brandon Koh (#7) – 75′

Montenegro 2
Nebojsa Kosovic (#10) – 9′, 23′ (Penalty)

Singapore lineup
Fashan Iskandar (#1, GK),
Dhukhilan Jeevamani (left back, #16), Syazwan Radhi (centre back, #3), Jeffrey Lightfoot (#5, centre back, Captain), Illyas Lee (#14, right back),
Jonathan Tan (#11, left winger), Ammirul Mazlan (central midfielder, #6), Brandon Koh (right winger, #7)[-78′], Sunny Ng (#12, central midfielder)[-26′],
Mohd Hanafi Akbar (#10, forward) [-80’+3], Muhaimin Suhaimi (#17, forward)

Coach: Kadir Yahaya

Substitutes:
Mohd Firdaus (#2), Mohamed Irfan (#4)[+78′], Amirul Iskandar (#8)[+26′], Syazwan Zin (#9)[+80’+3], Hassan Hazim (#13), Bryan Neubronner (#15), Fazil Hamzah (#18, GK)

Montenegro lineup
Marko Kordic (#1, GK), Stefan Vico (#2), Igor Markovic (#3), Danilo Sarkic (#4)[-76′], Jovan Baosic (#5), Nikola Jovanovic (#7), Stefan Nedovic (#8), Stevan Krivokapic (#9)[-80’+3], Nebojsa Kosovic (#10, Captain), Stefan Kaluderovic (#13)[-56′], Aleksandar Boljevic (#17)

Coach: Sava Kovacevic

Substitutes:
Jovan Cadenovic (#6)[+56′], Zarko Grbovic (#11), Lazar Nikolic (#12, GK), Filip Vukicevic (#14), Milan Vusurovic (#15) [+80’+3], Lav Lopicic (#16), Lazar Lalosevic (#18)[+76′]

Cautions:
Stefan Vico (Montenegro #8) – 12′
Dhukhilan Jeevamani (Singapore #16) – 21′
Stefan Nedovic (Montenegro #9) – 31′
Stefan Kaluderovic (Montenegro #13) – 38′

Expulsions:
Nikola Jovanovic (Montenegro #7) – 64′