Safuwan Baharudin of LionsXII connects with the ball against Johor FC. (Photo © Muhammad Yusuf/FAS. Used with permission.)
Jalan Besar Stadium, Friday, September 14, 2012 — Despite qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup, the Singapore LionsXII incurred the wrath of home fans after spending the last 30 minutes sitting back, seemingly content with a 0-0 draw.
The 0-0 result allowed the LionsXII to finish top of their group while Johor FC qualified in second place. Johor FA’s 2-0 win over PKNS was rendered meaningless as Fandi Ahmad’s team could only finish third in the group.
The LionsXII scored a total of four goals in six group games while conceding only one.
However, the lack of adventure in their final home game left some sections of the 4,987 home fans upset as they started jeering the LionsXII players. Some fans also left before the final whistle.
Home crowd numbers have not exceeded 5,000 in the 7,500-seater Jalan Besar Stadium since the start of the Malaysia Cup.
Within hours of the final whistle, the LionsXII Facebook page had seen over 300 comments as the majority of fans ripped into the team and head coach V. Sundramoorthy for the performance.
“One of the most disappointing match (sic),” wrote Diane Goh on the LionsXII Facebook page.
“It was so sad to see all the fans leaving even before the game ends. Group by group started to leave. Come on, like at least have some desire to win. At least try to attack. They were stupidly just looking at the ball being passed around the Johor FC players and don’t (sic) bother to attack,” added Diana.
Wrote another fan, Muhammed Hernee: “I’ve been telling my friends to support local football especially LionsXII as they are representing our country and virtually playing without foreign talent (Agu was not even first choice) and this is the squad that we as Singaporeans should be proud of.
“But yesterday I was made to eat my own words by the shameful football by the LionsXII. So is this how we are going to be for the next upcoming years?”
Zainudin Nordin, the president of the Football Association of Singapore, stated on his Facebook wall that “it was very painful to watch”.
At the post-match press conference, Sundram said: “The first half you saw the game, it was very exciting. We moved forward and tried to create chances. The boys went out to attack and they tried to score. In the second half they were tired and tried to rely on the counter, but Johor were happy to sit back and pass the ball around. I think as the game progressed, the players were tired as they have played a lot of games. The tempo slowed down as a result.”
“We were still trying to pass the ball and create something, but Johor were sitting back and ten players were sitting behind the ball. It is not easy to break down teams defending like this. We tried hitting passes to Amri but Johor’s defenders were big-sized,” added Sundram.
Sundram also appealed for the fans to continue supporting the team.
He said: “I definitely would love for them to support us in the quarter-finals. Now the boys will be fresher, and they have got seven days before the quarter-final game. I would love for them to come back and support us.”
The LionsXII will meet Pahang in the quarter-finals.
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