Singapore thrash Korea in Asia Pacific Floorball Championship

Story by Farah Alsagoff/Red Sports. Pictures by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports.

Woodlands Sports Hall, Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - Singapore's shaky start failed to stop them from thrashing Korea 10-2 in the opening game of the inaugural 2010 Asia Pacific Floorball Championship.

The championship is a qualifier for the 2010 Men's World Championship in Finland.

Within a minute of the start, Korea got the scoring going with an early shot from half-court by Shin Jong Suk (#6). It barely squeezed between Singapore keeper Abdul Khalique (#31) and the goal post for a 1-0 Korean lead.

Just like the saying "what goes around comes around", Singapore’s reply was swift. From a half-court pass by Sean Huang (#17), Jovyn Low (#22) squeezed a shot between Korea's keeper Lee Young June (#1) and his goalpost in the third minute to tie it up 1-1.

Singapore took a 2-1 lead in a counter-attack with a series of fantastic one-twos between Ahmad Afzal (#9) and Mohd Hafeez (#7) before the latter took a crisp shot that hit the back of Korea's net.

At 9.33, Singapore's Tan Yiru (#23) had possession of the ball at the Korean corner and made a clean pass to Timothy Quek (#99) who was in front of the goalpost. Quek tapped in the third goal for Singapore.

A pass by Yeon Kwang Hwan (Korea #28) to team mate Lee Baek Hee (#37) saw Lee miss a chance to score because the pass was too high and fast.

The duo repeated their feat once again, but Lee's shot went wide for the second time.

In a dramatic display, Singapore player Muhammad Syazni (#25) was shoved out of court, tumbling over chairs meant for players serving penalties. It was unclear if Korean Lee Ki Wung (#20) was sent off for a 2-minute bench penalty for pushing or for obstruction.

Korea released their box play, with Yeon (#28) heading the offensive. Singapore's Joseph Cortes (#27) buckled under his pressure, but Kwang Hwan's glee was momentary as Joseph won the ball back.

Korea continued their offensive box play, leaving Singapore players rushing back to defend.

When the box play ended, Korea did not falter on their attacks. Korea's #7 Shin Jong Suk took a drag shot from the left side of half-court, but Singapore's keeper Khalique quickly blocked it.

The second period saw more attacking chances by Singapore, and they were rewarded in the first minute when Johnson Sivalingham (#16) took an outstanding slap shot to deflect the ball off the Korean keeper's shoulder into the top corner of the goal to make it 4-1.

Korea's keeper Lee Young Jun (#1) was doing a superb job with fantastic saves from a barrage of Singapore shots. Singapore's Enrico Elifh (#24) saw his shot saved by a well-timed stretch of Young Jun's arm.

Oswind Rosayro (Singapore #12) too saw his shot saved as he missed an opportunity to score on the blind side and Young Jun got possession of it.

Mohd Hafeez (#7) scored his second, and Singapore's fifth goal when (#15) Sim How Chong passed the ball to him and from the right, executed a fantastic slap shot into Korea's top left corner.

Singapore continued their scoring rampage when Timothy Quek (#99) passed the ball to team mate Ahmad Afzal whose wrist shot hit the goal at 23.02 for a 6-1 lead.

A minute later, Leroy Joshua Brown (Singapore #21) passed the ball to Jovyn Low (#22) for a slap shot on Korea's blind side to hit the back of the net.

Leading 7-1, Singapore's Lionel Sing (#13) was sent off for an incorrect hit near the 35th minute mark. Korea could not monopolize the play, but were given a second chance a minute later when Mohd Hafeez (#7) too was sent off for incorrect hit.

Korea failed to score and instead had to defend as Singapore's #25 Muhammad Syanzi won possession of the ball and darted forward to gain a one-on-one advantage with Korea's keeper. Unfortunately for him, Lee Young Jun managed to dive and win the ball from him before he could take a shot.

Singapore began the third period with a change in keeper with Mohamad Firdaus (#32) standing in for Khalique.

At 41.42, Korean Yeon Kwang Hwan (#28) was sent off for unsportsmanlike behaviour, resulting in a 10+2. (Player gets a personal 10-minute penalty and another player serves a 2-minute team penalty. If Korea were to concede in this penalty, the team penalty terminates, but the personal penalty has to be completed in full.)

Johnson Sivalingham (Singapore #16) took advantage of the free hit awarded and made an excellent slap shot into the top left hand corner of the goal, scoring his second in the game and the eighth for Singapore.

Korea, getting increasingly agitated, forced the referees to call for a time-out when a Singapore player shoved his opponent against the goalpost until it tipped and fell over the Korean keeper.

In the 46th minute, Singapore gained an advantage, allowing them to play with six men outfield after keeper Mohamed Firdaus took the initiative to run out.

Korea gained possession but Jang Seung Kyu (#10) was sent off for improper hit. From the immediate free hit, Tan Yiru (Singapore #23) scored to widen the gap to 9-1.

With more players falling and tripping all over court, it was no wonder that more penalties were given out. Korea's Kim Seung Ho (#6) got his original penalty for pushing, after having to serve the team penalty earlier.

With Korea's box play executed, Singapore's Joseph Cortes (#27) made a deft pass across Korea's castle to Jovyn Low (#22) who appeared out of nowhere to tap in the tenth goal.

A minute later, Korea's Kim Sang Ki (#2) received a pass along the sideboards and made a pass to Lee Jun Oh (#5) whose shot rocketed past Mohamad Firdaus into the back of the goal, bringing the score to 10-2.

Korea had yet another advantage when Singapore's How Chong (#15) was sent off in the 56th minute. Korea's #28 Yeon Kwang Hwan made a slap shot that hit the top post of Singapore's goal but failed to find its way in for the final piece of action on the night.

Korea's Shin Jung Suk (#7), who scored the very first goal of the game, received the best player award for his team while Singapore's best player was Johnson Sivalingham who scored two amazing goals.

Singapore's team manager Shahizan Ahmad said that they "didn't expect to win by such a margin" and they tried to "play to their strengths, not to stay in the same position for too long". He also said "communication was important" and the "lines still need to talk”.

Sivalingham was "shocked to receive the award" and said he "expected Jovyn (#22) to receive it".

Korea's uproarious cheers from the bench every now and then surprised many, but kudos go to them for not giving up until the final whistle.

Singapore face Malaysia next at Woodlands Sports Hall. Tickets are on sale at the door and are priced at $4 for students up to 18 years old, and $7 for adults.