National Team - Lionesses ● May 15, 2022
Lionesses exit SEA Games after admirable campaign
Lionesses take a bow after their narrow loss to Myanmar, 15 May 2022. (Credit: Sport Singapore/Dyan Tjhia)
SINGAPORE, 15 MAY 2022 – Despite losing two of their three matches at the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Singapore women’s national team can hold their heads up high following their first campaign at the biennial event in 19 years.
In their final Group B match against Myanmar today, the 135th-ranked Lionesses came close to shutting out their 45th-ranked opponents at the Cam Pha Stadium in Quang Ninh, Vietnam. Only an injury time goal denied Stephen Ng’s charges in a 1-0 defeat.
Singapore were disciplined in defense and goalkeeper Noor Kusumawati delivered yet another assuring performance between the sticks. The backline of captain Ernie Sulastri, Umairah Hamdan, Dhaniyah Qasimah and makeshift left-back Putri Syaliza were also able to frustrate the opposition with important clearances.
Midfielders Venetia Lim and Dorcas Chu were also relentless at the center of the pitch and while Myanmar, regulars at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup, dominated possession, they were unable to create many clear chances.
It was only late into injury time that the Burmese found the breakthrough, as forward Win Theigi Tun headed in a corner.
The 1-0 loss is the narrowest defeat against Myanmar in five previous encounters. The most recent ended in a 7-0 loss at the 2018 ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship, while the largest defeat was an 11-0 loss at the 2012 edition.
Head Coach Ng said: “The team followed the game plan each time, and we achieved our main objective which was to show the region that we can compete. Our women’s football team is developing, we are a work in progress, and we can whole-heartedly say that we have given a good account of ourselves. You can see that their effort was tremendous and they can be proud of their campaign.”
The defeat wraps up Singapore’s campaign, which included a 3-0 defeat to Thailand in their first match and a historic 1-0 win against Laos to end with three points. Midfielder Mastura Jeilani and defender Khairunnisa Khairol Anwar’s starting appearances against Myanmar also meant that all 20 players in the squad made their SEA Games debuts.
The Lionesses will travel back home on Tuesday, 17 May.
Singapore: Noor Kusumawati (GK), Farhanah Ruhaizat (Siti Rosnani Azman 81’), Nicole Lim (Danelle Tan 46’), Dhaniyah Qasimah (Syazwani Ruzi 90+5’), Mastura Jeilani (Izzati Rosni 46’), Ernie Sulastri, Khairunnisa Khairol Anwar (Stephanie Dominguez 77’), Umairah Hamdan, Dorcas Chu, Putri Syaliza, Venetia Lim.
Unused subs: Beatrice Tan (GK), Nurhidayu Naszri, Fatin Aqillah Ridzwan, Ho Hui Xin.
