Football: S'pore U-23s draw another blank

Football: S'pore U-23s draw another blank

MALAYSIA - Another game, another defeat.

The Singapore Under-23s ended the group stage of the Merdeka Tournament on a whimper after losing 2-0 to the Myanmar Under-23s in Temerloh, Pahang, last Wednesday night.

While the result saw Myanmar take their place in Saturday's final against hosts Malaysia, the third successive defeat for Singapore's Young Lions leaves a huge question mark over their prospects at December's South-east Asia Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar.

V Sundramoorthy's side were shorn of six key players on duty with the senior national side, but the lack of thrust up front and pace among the players at the tournament suggests there is much work to do to get them ready.

Myanmar stated their intent when Kaung Sithu forced Neezam Abdul Aziz to make a save after just 23 seconds.

The Singapore defence then switched off in the 15th minute to allow Kyaw Ko Ko to power home a header unchallenged after a short corner.

In the final minute of regulation time, substitute Soe Kyaw Kyaw made Singapore pay for failing to clear their lines when he scored with another free header off a Set Phyo Wai cross.

The Young Lions have one more match to redeem themselves in a third-place play-off against a Thai Selection side at the Darul Makmur Stadium on Saturday.


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