Football: Singapore fall to Thailand in SEA Games opener
Thailand celebrates their first goal against Singapore at the 2023 SEA Games on Apr 30, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)
PHNOM PENH: For about 10 minutes on a sultry, sticky Sunday afternoon, there was hope for Singapore.
A Nicky Melvin Singh strike close to the stroke of half-time had halved a two-goal cushion for 16-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games champions Thailand, and there was a sliver of a chance.
But just minutes into the second half at the Prince Stadium in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Sunday (Apr 30), a Purachet Thodsanit goal would extinguish that ember of opportunity, and consign Singapore to a 1-3 defeat.
The Young Lions’ last victory over the Thais at the regional meet was in 2011, when they clinched a 2-0 win.
This time, the under-22 national side had a mountain to climb after going a goal behind with less than 10 minutes played.
Channarong Promsrikaew was afforded too much space on the right in the eighth minute, and his cross found Achitpol Keereerom. Striker Teerasak Poeiphimai then had all the time and space in the penalty box as he nodded home from the resulting flick-on.
"We know they are a quality side and we came into today knowing that we had to defend well," said Singapore's head coach Philippe Aw after the match. "Unfortunately we conceded very, very early, which made things difficult for us."
Singapore remained penned in for much of the opening exchanges, with Abdul Rasaq ploughing a lonely furrow down the right channel.
The Thais almost made it two in the 18th minute after Kieran Teo misjudged the bounce of the ball, and Purachet pounced. However, the Muangthong United attacker was thwarted by the feet of Singapore goalkeeper Aizil Yazid.
Thailand were well in control, and it took another solid save from Aizil to deny Channarong.
But the Thais would carve Singapore open again and in the 38th minute, as a neat one-two saw Achitpol played in and he slotted past Aizil to make it 2-0.
At last year’s edition of the SEA Games Singapore was routed 5-0 by the Thais in the group stage, and Sunday's game threatened to spiral out of control in similar fashion.
But the Young Lions did not let their heads drop and were rewarded minutes later.
Good work down the left from Jordan Emaviwe saw him clip in a cross to skipper Harhys Stewart, whose ball into the box was dropped by Thai keeper Soponwit Rakyart. Nicky was on hand to drill home via a deflection from Jakkrapong Sanmahung and pull one back for Singapore.
Emaviwe could have equalised minutes later, but his low shot was kept out by Soponwit.
"When we pulled that one goal back, we had a chance to make it 2-2. So going into half-time, the spirits of the boys were high because we knew in that 10 minutes we actually caused Thailand plenty of problems," Aw told reporters.
"We wanted to keep it as 2-1, as tight as possible, hopefully we would get a chance and make it 2-2 ... Nevertheless, the players played their best and really gave Thailand a run for their money."
The Thais would get their third in the 50th minute as Purachet poked home, ensuring three points and the victory as their effervescent supporters - the majority of 2,523 fans at the ground - partied into the evening.
Aw’s Singapore side have been grouped with Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos in what has been billed the group of death.
It has been a decade since the team has progressed out of the group stage at the SEA Games. The last time Singapore advanced to the finals was in 1989, when the team were beaten 3-1 by Malaysia.
Aw noted the quality of the Thai team, who competed at the U-23 Doha Cup last month. They held Saudi Arabia to a draw and were narrowly edged out by Kuwait after beating Qatar.
“We strive to compete at that kind of level because they have competed at a high level, when they come back down to Southeast Asia, you can see the quality in their boys."
And the level of understanding between players is something that Singapore needs time to improve on, Aw added.
“Football is a team sport and the understanding .... requires time, time spent in training and playing high-level matches," he said.
"You need time, there is no shortcut to success."
The Young Lions next face Vietnam on Wednesday (May 3).
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