SINGAPORE (21 March 2015) – The Singapore Under-23 went down 3-1 to the Cambodian U22 side in a friendly match played at the Jalan Besar Stadium this week.
The Singapore side finished with nine men in the game, after Shakir Hamzah and Sheikh Abdul Hadi were both sent off in the second half.
Singapore had gotten off to a great start in the game, after Sahil Suhaimi put them ahead in the second minute.
A through ball from Shahfiq Ghani after he turned two markers split the defence, and Sahil made no mistake with only the goalkeeper to beat for the opening goal.
Singapore then dominated the proceedings in the first half, and had a couple of opportunities to extend the lead.
It could have been 2-0 just after 16 minutes, but Adam Swandi’s header from Shahfiq’s cross forced a good save from Prak Mony Phirun in the Cambodia goal.
Adam then turned creator three minutes later, picking out Shahfiq with an exquisite cross, but the latter’s first touch let him down and the chance went begging.
Cambodia scored the equaliser just a minute before half-time, after Phanny Y Ratha robbed Shakir of the ball outside the box before slotting past Syazwan Buhari.
Head Coach, Under-23 National Team Aide Iskandar then introduced Irfan Fandi into the game just five minutes into the second-half in a bid to give his side more attacking bite.
The young striker almost made an immediate impact, but his acrobatic effort was blocked. A minute later, his header off a Shamil Sharif cross was well saved by Phirun.
Things took a turn for the worse for the hosts in the 69th minute. Inside the box, Prak Mony Udom was fouled by Shakir from behind, and the captain was given his marching orders. Prak then picked himself up to convert the spot-kick for the lead.
Three minutes later, Cambodia netted their third. A through pass from Mony Udom allowed Sam Oeun Pidor to slot the ball into the back of the net.
The Singapore players tried their best to find a way back into the game, but could not due to their numerical disadvantage.
The night was made more disappointing after Abdul Hadi was sent off in an off-the-ball incident in the last minute inside the Cambodian penalty box.
SINGAPORE U23: Syazwan Buhari (GK), Shakir Hamzah (C), Fadli Kamis (Al-Qaasimy Rahman 59’), M Anumanthan (Pravin Gunasagaran 90’), Sahil Suhaimi (Irfan Fandi 51’), Adam Swandi (Shameer Aziq 51’), Shahfiq Ghani, Farhan Rahmat (Safirul Sulaiman 59’), Sheikh Abdul Hadi, Iqbal Hussain (Christopher van Huizen 53’), Amirul Adli (Shamil Sharif 52’, Taufiq Muqminin 77’).
CAMBODIA U22: Prak Mony Phirun (GK), Nub Tola (Chheng Meng 73’), Moung Makara (Sam Oeun Pidor 61’), Chan Vathanaka (C) (Prak Mony Udom 61’), Prak Charatana, Phanny Y Ratha (Tit Dina 74’), Hoy Phallin (Soeuy Visal 54’), Ol Ravy (Sary Matnorotin 25’, Op Kamol 88’), San Thideth (Ngoy Srin 31’), Nen Sothearoth (Ly Arifin 84’), Rous Samoeun.
