Story by Siti Rohaniza Muhammad/Red Sports
Singapore captain Enrico Marican presses forward with the ball. (Photo 1 © Lisa Pape/Sport Singapore)
Sengkang Hockey Stadium, Monday, June 8, 2015 — After a surprising 1–1 draw with Myanmar in their opening match, Singapore lost 1–4 to defending gold medallists, Malaysia. Malaysia, coached by Mirnawan Nawawi, are represented by the National Juniors, all of whom are below 21.
The game started with Singapore hungry for a win against their causeway rivals who had defeated them 5–0 in the previous Games. Singapore received a penalty corner after Singapore’s captain, Enrico Marican (SIN #5), was caught by two Malaysian players while he was trying to dribble around them. Sabri Yuhari (SIN #19) converted the penalty corner to go ahead 1–0.
However, Malaysia soon found an equaliser through Sufi Ismat Rohul (MAS #11). He took a shot from outside the D, which deflected off the keeper’s head and into the net.
With seconds remaining on the clock in the first half, a Singaporean player was given a green card. This caused confusion on the field as Singapore thought that the referee had stopped the clock. In reality, Malaysia had taken the hit quickly and Aiman Nik Rozemi (MAS #8) scored Malaysia’s second goal just before the break.
At the start of the second half, Malaysia were given a penalty corner. Ashran Hamsani (MAS #3) converted it to give Malaysia a 3–1 lead when the Singapore defence failed to clear the ball after it was saved the first time.
The last goal of the match also came through a penalty corner when Aminudin Mohd Zain (MAS #23) put the ball into the back of the net.
Enrico Marican (SIN #5) felt that his team had done well despite the loss. “We got the opportunities and the shots, but it is just that the score did not show otherwise. We did what we wanted and what we talked about.”
Regarding the performance of the younger players, he said, “The younger players actually surprised me. They played really well. A shoutout to Faris who created many opportunities. I hope he will continue to perform like this.”
Singapore will face Thailand in their final group stage match at Sengkang Hockey Stadium on June 10, 7.15pm and will searching for their first win in this edition of the SEA Games.
Singapore vs Malaysia
Scoring by Half
1st Half: 1–2
2nd Half: 0–2 (1–4)
Scorers
Singapore
Sabri Yuhari (SIN #19) – 1 goal
Malaysia
Sufi Ismat Rohul (MAS #11) – 1 goal
Aiman Nik Rozemi (MAS #8) – 1 goal
Ashran Hamsani (MAS #3) – 1 goal
Aminudin Mohd Zain (MAS #23) – 1 goal
Singapore Roster
A Suresh (#1), Nur Iszuan Adon (#2), Haseef Salim (#3), Farhan Kamsani (#4), Enrico Marican (#5), Jaspal Singh (#6), Karleef Abdullah (#7), Mohd Saifulnizam (#10), Nur Ashriq Zulkepli (#11), Silas Noor (#12), Timothy Goh (#13), Ishwarpal Singh (#14), Johnson Sivalingam (#16), Baqir Asali (#17), Tan Yi Ru (#18), Sabri Yuhari (#19), Muhd Faris (#21), Abdul Hafiz (#23)
Malaysia Roster
Adi Fazri AB Rahim (#1), Ashran Hamsani (#3), Husaini Mohd Husin (#4), Omar Firdaus (#5), Nor Azrul Abdul Rahman (#6), Najib Abu Hassan (#7), Aiman Nik Rozemi (#8), Azwar Abdul Rahman (#9), Sufi Ismat Rohul (#11), Abdul Khaliq Hamirin (#12), Norsyafiq Sumantri (#13), Amirol Aideed (#14), Rafizul Ezry Mustafa (#17), Syafiq Syed (#19), Mazhans Christi (#21), Aminudin Mohd Zain (#23), Najmi Farizal Jazlan (#26), Ridzwan Azwmi (#28)
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