SINGAPORE, 28 November 2019 – Fandi Ahmad’s charges went down to their first defeat of the 30^th SEA Games with a 2-0 loss to Indonesia at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Philippines last night.

 

Singapore had started brightly as Faris Ramli fired just over the bar in the 12^th minute, before defender Lionel Tan forced a great save from Indonesia custodian Nadeo Winata in the 17^th minute with a free-kick that looked poised to bulge the top corner.

 

Singapore had a few more half-chances but it was Indonesia who eventually drew first blood after the break.

 

In the 64^th minute, Osvaldo Haay broke the deadlock in a one-on-one situation and put the Garuda ahead. Singapore could have pulled one back just three minutes later but Jacob Mahler glanced Hami Syahin’s free-kick wide.

 

Asnawi Bahar then made it 2-0 for Indonesia by maintaining his composure to slot home in the 74^th minute.

 

Singapore’s best chance of the night fell to Irfan Fandi in the 82^nd minute when he headed Zulqarnaen’s cross off the bar. The rebound eventually fell to Ikhsan and then Faris, who both could not find the back of the net after a goalmouth scramble.

 

Fandi said after the match: “Obviously we’re very disappointed with the result. I thought tactically we were very sound in the first half, but Indonesia is one of the toughest teams to play in our group and I felt the boys did very well. In the first half, both sides didn’t have much chances because we tried to hold off their wing-backs. But they are very fast on both flanks and they exploited us on the left side.”

 

On the lack of goals, Fandi added: “We only have maybe one or two strikers, so we do with what we have. But the important thing is that we have three more games to go. We hope we will start firing but it is not easy for us and Indonesia is a better team than us. We knew they would eventually break us down and it was their speed that killed us.”

 

Fandi called on the team to rally together: “For us, it will be a mountain to climb because we have to win the last few games, (but) we never give up.”

 

Singapore will next face Thailand on Sunday, December 1.

 

Singapore: Zharfan Rohaizad (GK), Tajeli Salamat, Irfan Fandi (C), Lionel Tan, Syahrul Sazali, Hami Syahin (Saifullah Akbar 83′), Jacob Mahler, Ryhan Stewart (Shah Shahiran 76′), Naqiuddin Eunos (Zulqarnaen Suzliman 76′), Faris Ramli, Ikhsan Fandi.
Unused subs: Kenji Rusydi (GK), Irfan Najeeb, Joshua Pereira, Jordan Vestering, Nur Luqman Rahman, Haiqal Pashia.