SEA Games Football: Singapore recover from previous loss to post vital 3–1 win over Cambodia

Story by Carissa Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports

Faris Ramli (#10) of Singapore headed in a goal in dying minutes of the first half just seconds after Safirul Sulaiman (#28) scored the first goal. (Photo © Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports)

Faris Ramli (#10) of Singapore headed in a goal in the dying minutes of the first half just seconds after Safirul Sulaiman (#28) scored the first goal. Singapore went on to beat Cambodia 3-1 in a must-win game for the hosts. (Photo 1 © Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports)

Jalan Besar Stadium, Monday, June 8, 2015 — Singapore came back from a 1–2 loss to Myanmar in their previous match to triumph 3–1 over Cambodia in the Southeast Asian (SEA) games under-23 football tournament.

The U23 Young Lions had previously fallen 1–3 to an Under-22 Cambodian side in an international friendly on March 19 this year.

Singapore started off strong, gaining a chance at goal just two minutes into the game. Muhammad Faris Ramli (#10) took the shot outside the six-yard box but sent it flying above goal.

In response to the lacklustre shooting in their previous games against Myanmar and Philippines, Coach Aide Iskandar tweaked the line-up to include Irfan Fandi (#17) in the starting roster.

Irfan (#17) led Singapore’s offence, with Mohamad Sahil Suhaimi (#7) sitting behind in midfield.

A Cambodian back-pass in the 18th minute gifted Singapore with an indirect free kick. However, it was squandered by Sahil (#7), who fired it straight at the eight-man wall.

While Singapore dominated the game, they were unable to capitalise on their many opportunities for an opening goal until the dying minutes of the first half.

As his teammates prepared to take a free kick, Shakir Hamzah (#2) elbowed a Cambodian defender in the head and received a well-deserved yellow card.

However, this did not break Singapore’s momentum. Safirul Sulaiman (#28) swerved in a stunning fre ekick into the upper left corner for Singapore’s opening goal.

This was closely followed by another goal just moments later. Off a lob from Safirul (#28), Irfan (#17) sent a deflected cross into the box and Faris Ramli (#10) was there to head it into an unguarded goal for Singapore’s second goal in as many minutes.

Shortly after the half-time break, Adam Swandi (SIN #5) picked up a yellow card. Across the field, teammate Irfan went down with a cramp. This was met with an encouraging Singapore crowd, who cheered, “Come on Irfan!” while medics continued working on him. However, the 17-year-old was subsequently replaced by Ho Wai Loon (#13).

Singapore picked up a third yellow card for dangerous play when Anumanthan Mohan Kumar (#6) tackled Sovan Sok (#2).

This proved to be the perfect opportunity for Cambodia. From the resulting free kick, Chhoeun Chhin (#17) beat out two defenders and sent a cross straight to the head of an unmarked Vathanaka Chan (#11). His glancing header gave Cambodia their first goal.

However, Vathanaka (#11), picked up a yellow card five minutes later for dangerous play.

With their first goal, Cambodia grew more ambitious in their offence. Singapore struggled to keep up as Cambodian attackers employed wall passes and sent balls through a packed six-yard box.

With Irfan out of the game, Sahil (#7) took his place as striker. However, he continued to disappoint the Singaporean crowd by missing chances.

Desperate to equalise, Cambodia attacked incessantly throughout the last 20 minutes. They were visibly frustrated as Singapore defenders fended them off. In a Singapore counter-attack, a lob forward to space left Sahil (#7) facing only the Cambodian goalkeeper. This time, Sahil, much-maligned all tournament long for his lack of accuracy in front of goal, did not miss. He calmly slotted it past the goalkeeper to seal Singapore’s victory.

On the team’s performance, Young Lions coach, Aide Iskandar, commented, “I think we are happy to get the win tonight. I think the performance wasn’t the best compared to the last game against Myanmar. But, a win is a win. We’ll take these three points and I’m proud of the boys that they dug deep to get the three points and hopefully, this win will give us a good morale booster for the next game against Indonesia.”

He added that it was “a big relief for us” that the team finally scored a goal from open play and elaborated, “It was also a big relief for Faris and Sahil. I mean, for them, they’ve gotten a lot of criticism for the last two games and I told them that they just have to positive. In fact, before the game, I told Sahil that he would score tonight, he just had to be patient and true enough, he got the chance and he scored. So, I’m happy for both of them and I think from now on, Faris and Sahil, you’ll see more of them in the next game.”

The win sent Singapore into second place in the group, behind Myanmar who have already sealed a semi-final place. Indonesia are in third place, three points behind Singapore, but they have a match in hand. Singapore’s final group game is against the Indonesians on June 11.

Scoring by half
Singapore vs Cambodia
1st half: 2–0
2nd half: 1–1 (3–1)

Scorers
Singapore
Safirul Sulaiman (#28)
Faris Ramli (#10)
Sahil Suhaimi (#7)

Cambodia
Vathanaka Chan (#11)

Singapore Starting XI
Muhammad Shakir Hamzah (#2), Adam Swandi (#5), Anumanthan Mohan Kumar (#6), Mohamad Sahil Suhaimi (#7), Muhammad Faris Ramli (#10), Pravin Guanasagaran (#12), Sheikh Abdul Hadi Sh Othman (#15), Irfan Fandi Ahmad (#17), Muhammad Al-Qaasimy Abdul Rahman (#18), Muhammad Syazwan Buhari (#24), Safirul Sulaiman (#28)

Singapore Substitutes
Rudy Khairullah Adi Negara (#1), Muhammad Fadli Kamis (#3), Muhammad Ammirul Adli Azmi (#4), Muhammad Shamil Sharif (#8), Amy Recha Pristifana Samion (#9), Muhammad Shahfiq Ghani (#11), Ho Wai Loon (#13), Stanely Ng Yong Woo (#19), S Suria Prakash (#23)

Cambodia Starting XI
Serei Rath Um (#1), Sovan Sok (#2), Sothearoth Nen (#3), Visal Soeuy (#5), Pidor Sam Oeun (#6), Mony Udom Prak (#7), Suhana Sos (#12), Ravy Ol (#13), Chanrasmey Sok (#15), Chhoeun Chhin (#17), Ratha Phanny Y (#20)

Cambodia Substitutes
Phatllin Hoy (#8), Soksana Phourng (#9), Sokpheng Keo (#10), Vathanaka Chan (#11), Dina Tit (#14), Srin Ngoy (#16), Bunchay Peng (#21), Pancharong Touch (#22)

SEA Games Football: How would you rate Singapore's 3–1 win over Cambodia?