Singapore U-19s trounced by Bahrain
Singapore was outmuscled, outscored and outplayed
SINGAPORE U-19 0
BAHRAIN U-19 4
(Mohamed Marhoon 26, Mohamed Hardan 48, Jasim Husain 88, Ebrahim Alawi 90)
Outmuscled, outscored and outplayed.
Singapore's Under-19 outfit were soundly beaten 4-0 by their Bahrain counterparts at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium last night, in the first of two international friendly matches.
The second match is scheduled for Saturday, also at Choa Chu Kang.
If anyone needed any evidence that Singapore's youth national teams need to be regularly exposed to quality international opponents, this was it.
The young Lions did not look confident in possession, and were duly punished by Bahrain, whose senior team are ranked 19th in Asia.
In the 26th minute, midfielder Hami Syahin was caught dawdling on the ball and was dispossessed by a Bahrain player, who was later brought down for a free-kick just outside the box.
Up stepped Mohamed Marhoon to fire the free-kick past Singapore goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad, who had done well until then and made four good saves.
Just three minutes into the second half, centre back Syaqi Sulaiman's square pass intended for midfielder Gareth Low was intercepted by Bahrain skipper Mohamed Hardan, who ruthlessly slammed home from just outside the box.
Singapore discovered a second wind midway through the second half, but were unable to carve out any clear opportunities.
GLOSS
Bahrain then added gloss to the scoreline with two goals in the final two minutes, through substitutes Jasim Husain and Ebrahim Alawi.
The two teams had sparred twice in June in Manama, with Bahrain coming out tops both times (2-0 and 3-0).
Singapore coach Takuya Inoue admitted his players were too timid.
"They do well when they are not under pressure," said the Japanese.
"But doing it under pressure is a different thing.
"They are still a bit afraid to play against stronger opponents, who put them under pressure.
"There is definitely a big difference in standards, technically and physically.
"Bahrain are preparing for the U-19 Asian Cup (next month) and have played many international friendlies.
"We made simple mistakes, passing in the (midfield) line, and the third and fourth goals should not have happened... The players lost concentration and encouragement."
Bahrain coach Abdulaziz Abdo said speed of thought was what separated the two teams.
"We were always thinking," he said. "We didn't give our opponents space and stayed compact.
"4-0, 6-0, I don't care (about the score). What is important is the players do what we practise, like decision-making, technique and tactics."
"They do well when they are not under pressure. But doing it under pressure is a different thing. they are still a bit afraid to play against stronger opponents, who put them under pressure."
— Singapore U-19 coach Takuya Inoue, on his players
- SINGAPORE: Zharfan Rohaizad (Fadly Tamiri 82), Rusyaidi Salime, Lionel Tan, Syaqi Sulaiman, Shafie Muliantoh (Zulkhair Mustaffa 78), Gareth Low, Hami Syahin, Andin Addie (Zulqarnaen Suzliman 61), Saifullah Akbar (Jordan Chan 68), Haiqal Pasha (Ariyan Shamsuddin 78), Amiruldin Asraf (Syukri Bashir 85)
- BAHRAIN: Abdulaziz Alkandari, Sayed Shubbar (Husain Sabba 65), Hamad Alshamsan (Mohamed Jamal 75), Hasan Alkarrani (Faisal Al Bureshaid 76), Abdulaziz Almarran (Ahmed Bughammar 25), Emad Mohamed (Ebrahim Alawi 46), Zeyad Khamis (Ali Yahya 46), Mohamed Hardan, Abdulaziz Bajab (Mohamed Ali 65), Mohamed Marhoon (Ahmed Sanad 75), Faisal Alisa (Jasim Husain 46)
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