Under-23s Juma'at Jantan (left) and Hariss Harun (right) in action.

In many ways Sunday’s friendly hit out between the Singapore’s Under 23 team and Australia mirrored the pattern of the match between the senior sides of both nations barely 24 hours earlier.

The home side held the more fancied visitors at half time but missed several chances of causing an upset by poor finishing, as the match finished goalless.

The second half did not follow the same pattern perhaps down to the last-minute decision to play the match as two 35-minute-halves instead of the customary ninety as Australia did not name any substitutes other than third-choice goalkeeper Michael Petkovic.

Nevertheless the crowd that trooped down to Bishan enjoyed the game and many sought autographs and photos of the more senior Socceroos who sat the game out in the VIP area and came down to pitch level once the match was over.

Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic and team manager Eugene Loo were delighted with the way the home team had played to secure a more than creditable draw.

Australia were on the back foot for much of the game as the Lions grew in confidence as the match progressed.

In the ninth minute a free kick from Masrezwan Masturi 30 yards out was just wide, bringing an expectant response from the crowd.

Five minutes later, a stray David Carney pass landed at the foot of cleared the ball to Juma’at Jantan. Despite being well outside the area, the Home United man tried his luck with a long-range stinger that forced a fingertip save from Socceroos’ keeper, Brad Jones.

Not long after, Juma’at latched onto a through pass by Masrezwan and burst into the box with only Jones to beat. But the Singapore leftback’s first touch as he tried to round the Middlesbrough shotstopper was poor and the chance was lost.

Australia’s Bruce Djite had his side’s first chance in the 31st minute, lifting his shot over an advancing keeper Hassan Sunny and the bar after being released by Socceroos captain Archie Thompson.

Thompson had a good chance to score as he dashed into the box on a solo run in the 34th minute but his attempt was well wide.

The hosts might well have had a goal a second time before the break.

Hariss Harun lifted the ball over the defence for Masrezwan to chase but the Singapore striker appeared hesitant to make a strong challenge for what was a 50-50 ball thirty yards out from goal against the last defender and Australia escaped again.

After the break Singapore brought on four immediate substitutes including Erwan Gunawan who lasted less than 15 minutes after surviving some heavy challenges.

Juma’at was able to get to the byline soon after the break to whip a nice cut back towards Erwan but the latter fired just wide. Moments later the promising Young Lion was carried off injured and the game produced very few chances after that.

Nathan Burns shot wide in the 51st minute but the final indignity for the Socceroos was in the last minute when Singapore keeper Hassan was called up to take a free kick outside the box.

Hassan struck the ball well but just over the bar – which had substitute goalkeeper Petkovic scampering - a clear sign of how much control the locals had of the game.

Australia rarely threatened and few of their players impressed.

The duel between David Carney and Hafiz Osman was a keen one although it got a little irritable at times but the game saw no cautions issued and in many ways it was not as cut and thrust as it might have been.

Overall though it was good to see the Australians in action at a smaller arena and the crowd got the chance for another look at the Socceroos.

Singapore U23
- Hassan Sunny (gk), Ismail Yunos (Sevki Sha'ban 70), Isa Halim (Erwan Gunawan 36)(Shaiful Esah 49), Shariff Abdul Samat, Baihakki Khaizan, Hariss Harun (Ridhwan Jamaludin 56), Goh Swee Swee (Fazrul Nawaz 36), Hafiz Osman, Masrezwan Masturi (Tengku Mushadad 36), Ashrin Shariff (Shahril Alias 36), Juma’at Jantan

Australia
- Brad Jones (Michael Petkovic 36)Nathan Burns, Michael Beauchamp, Archie Thompson (capt), Bruce Djite, Mark Bridge, Michael Thwaite, Carl Valeri, Nick Carle, David Carney, Mark Miligan