Youth Olympic Hockey: Singapore suffer heavy defeat in opening game against Australia

Story by Alan Chiang/Red Sports. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports

Sengkang Hockey Stadium, Tuesday, August 17, 2010 — Singapore succumbed to a huge 8-1 beating in the Youth Olympic Games boys’ hockey competition at the hands of Australia. Favourites Australia delivered high tempo attacking plays, testimony of their success as second runners-up at the Junior World Championship in 2009.

It was a highly-anticipated match between the hosts and Australia but Singapore could only hold Australia back for seven minutes before Australia’s Oscar Wookey (#15) opened the floodgates. Australia’s superior possession from the start allowed Australia’s Daniel Beale (#1) and Daniel Mathiesen (#8) to add another two goals within the first half hour to lead 3-0.

Singapore had a couple of chances in the first period with Muhd Fadhil Muhd Rizaini (#11) a bright spark. Singapore’s Rahmat Abdul Jalil (#8) and Silas Abdul Razak Noor Shah (#9) however failed to capitalize on their counter-attacks to test Australian goalkeeper Andrew Butturini (#3).

The nerves showed in Singapore’s defence as they tried to halt the Australian offensive. The home team were kept in their own half most of the time as the Australians pressed forward relentlessly.

Australia’s Wookey did not take too long to claim his first hat-trick, allowing Australia to take a commanding 5-0 advantage by half time. Australia’s Dylan Wotherspoon (#16) could have claimed a hat-trick as well if not for Singapore’s goalkeeper Samudra Ong’s (#1) heroic saves.

The Australians began the second half strongly. Australia’s Jake Farrell (#6) added the sixth goal of the game through a penalty corner just a minute into the half. Four minutes later, Jordan Willott (#14) belted in a rebound to make it 7-0 after Singapore’s goalkeeper Samudra failed to clear to safety.

Spurred on by his goalkeeper’s bravery to nullify the Australians’ attacks throughout the entire game, Singapore’s captain Nur Ashiq Ferdaus Zul’Kepli (#6) came to life and led the offensive charge towards the end of the game. It became a more open affair late in the game as Singapore had a number of patient build-ups launched by their captain, but no one was able to meet the final ball in the box.

Australia’s Wotherspoon (#16) made it 8-0 as he capitalised on a counter-attack, catching the Singapore players off-guard.

Singapore’s all-out attack tactics proved fruitful as Singapore’s Mohd Haseef Salim (#4) managed to find the target in the final five minutes to claim a consolation goal from a penalty corner. It was a cause of celebration among the home fans who had turned up in full force to cheer the team.

Mohd Haseef, who scored the solitary goal for Singapore said: “It is an honour to score the first goal for Singapore.”

When commenting on the heavy defeat, he said: “We (Singapore) have nothing to lose as we are the sixth-seeded team in this YOG.”

Singapore’s coach Gerard Danker felt the team had put in their best effort. He said: “The boys played very well and it is always hard to play against big teams like Australia.”

He added, “The Australians are always going to show us (Singapore) a physical approach to the game and some of their players are even bigger than me!”

He reserved his full admiration for the Singapore team as half of them had made huge sacrifice juggling between ‘O’ Levels and hockey. He said: “I would like to thank their parents for their support too. I can see a bright future for Singapore as a sporting nation.”

The Singapore boys will be looking forward to redeeming themselves in their next game against Belgium who thrashed Chile 9-0 earlier today. They will play on Wednesday, August 18th, 8:30pm, at Sengkang Hockey Stadium Pitch 1.

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