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 Swandiโs header from Shahfiqโs 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 latterโs 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 59โ), M Anumanthan (Pravin Gunasagaran 90โ), Sahil Suhaimi (Irfan Fandi 51โ), Adam Swandi (Shameer Aziq 51โ), Shahfiq Ghani, Farhan Rahmat (Safirul Sulaiman 59โ), Sheikh Abdul Hadi, Iqbal Hussain (Christopher van Huizen 53โ), Amirul Adli (Shamil Sharif 52โ, Taufiq Muqminin 77โ).
CAMBODIA U22: Prak Mony Phirun (GK), Nub Tola (Chheng Meng 73โ), Moung Makara (Sam Oeun Pidor 61โ), Chan Vathanaka (C) (Prak Mony Udom 61โ), Prak Charatana, Phanny Y Ratha (Tit Dina 74โ), Hoy Phallin (Soeuy Visal 54โ), Ol Ravy (Sary Matnorotin 25โ, Op Kamol 88โ), San Thideth (Ngoy Srin 31โ), Nen Sothearoth (Ly Arifin 84โ), Rous Samoeun.