SEA Games: Moment of madness

SEMI-FINALTHAILAND 1

(Praweenwat Boonyong 24 pen)

SINGAPORE 0

It has become an all too familiar result for the Singapore football team at the South-east Asia (SEA) Games.

For the 11th time at the biennial Games, they lost in the semi-final to miss out on a chance to challenge for Singapore's first football gold.

Aide Iskandar's Under-23s were solid against their Thai counterparts, but the lack of a cutting edge up front, and a calamitous moment at the back, saw them bow out 1-0 Thursday night.

In the end, two of the three pillars whom Aide Iskandar had relied on so heavily in the tournament had their wires crossed when it mattered most, and it proved fatal.

After a good start that saw Hafiz Abu Sujad miss a one-on-one in the third minute, it all went to pieces 20 minutes later.

Under pressure from Thai striker Adisak Kraisorn, Singapore goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud and defender Safuwan Baharudin's both hesitated over a loose ball near their own penalty spot.

Swiss-born Under-17 World Cup winner Charyl Chappuis nipped in to knock the ball past Izwan, before Singapore right back Madhu Mohana bundled him over, leaving referee Kao Tung Fang with no choice but to point to the spot.

Praweenwat Boonyong expertly converted in what proved to be the winner to give Thailand a chance to add to their record 13 football gold medals tomorrow in the final against Indonesia, who deposed defending champions Malaysia 4-3 on penalties after they were tied 1-1 after extra time.

Thai coach Kiatisuk Senamuang conceded that Singapore were unlucky to lose.

The fact that Singapore's highly touted defence successfully held the fearsome Thai attack at bay easily for the rest of the match made that one moment of madness "a bitter pill to swallow", according to Safuwan.

The 22-year-old took responsibility for the mix-up after the game, and said: "The ball was between me and Adisak. I got my footing wrong, tripped, and he got behind me.

"It was a miscommunication between Izwan and me, but at that split second, anything could have happened, and unfortunately, it went wrong for us."

Singapore have conceded just three goals in five games, all through set-pieces, and coach Aide blamed it all on a lack of concentration.

Addressing the penalty incident, he said: "The ball should have been cleared. But there was hesitation between the goalkeeper and the defence and we got done in from that. I don't think we gave Thailand too much respect. We gave them a good fight."

Try as they might, the Young Lions just could not find an equaliser against a Thai defence marshalled by the outstanding Sakolwach Sakolla.

With a bronze medal still up for grabs, Safuwan insisted the team will bounce back against Malaysia.

"It will not be easy and we'll have to see how fast we recover," he said.

"The backroom staff have done a wonderful job, and the senior boys will have to lift up the spirits of the team.

"None of us want to go back empty-handed. I think we deserve to go home with a medal and we will fight for it."

THAILAND U-23: Kawin Thamsatchanan, Atit Daosawang, Sakolwach Sakolla, Praweenwat Boonyong, Theerathon Bunmathan, Thitiphan Puangjan, Kroekit Thawikan, Tanaboon Keserat, Charyl Chappuis (Chanathip Songkrasin 55, Chananan Pombubpha 68), Sarawut Masuk (Narubadin Weerawatnodom 78), Adisak Kraison

SINGAPORE U-23: Izwan Mahbud 6, Madhu Mohana 6, Afiq Yunos 6.5, Safuwan Baharudin 6, Shakir Hamzah 6.5, Faris Ramli 6.5, Zulfahmi Arifin 6 (Gabriel Quak 90+2), Hariss Harun 6, Hafiz Abu Sujad 5.5 (Iqbal Hamid Hussain 82), Shahfiq Ghani 5 (Izzdin Shafiq 67), Sahil Suhaimi 6

MATCH STATS

Shots: Thailand Under-23s 3 on target, 4 off target, Singapore Under-23s 6 on target, 7 off target,

Corners: Thailand Under-23s 3, Singapore Under-23s 1

Offsides: Thailand Under-23s 1, Singapore Under-23s 0

Yellow cards: Thailand Under-23s 1, Singapore Under-23s 2 (Shakir Hamzah, Sahil Suhaimi)

Attendance: 2,500

Match rating: 6/10

Referee: Kao Tung Fang (Taiwan) 6/10

TNP Man-of-the-Match: Sakolwach Sakolla (Thailand)

OTHER SEMI RESULT

Malaysia 1 Indonesia 1

(Indonesia win 4-3 on penalties)

Get The New Paper for more stories.