Crunch time for S’pore

SINGAPORE — Difficult as it sounds, Singapore assistant coach Aide Iskandar has urged his players to forget about the bigger picture and just concentrate on overcoming Oman today.

Following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Tajikistan, the Republic face a must-win situation in their second and penultimate Group C match at the Asian Games in Incheon as they seek to avoid yet another early exit from the quadrennial under-23 tournament.

Making Singapore’s task trickier at the Hwaseong Stadium will be the expected backlash from the Omanis, who are also in need of points after a surprise 2-0 loss to Palestine.

A draw would keep the Singapore team’s hopes alive, but they would then be relying on other results in the group to go in their favour to ensure they continue in the competition.

But speaking from Incheon, Aide, deputising for head coach Bernd Stange who did not travel because of a virus, said Singapore must seize the initiative against Oman.

“Oman is a daunting task. They are the group favourites and were unlucky to lose to Palestine. They are a good side who are very mobile, pass the ball pretty well and like to keep possession,” said Aide, 39. “We need to stop their fluidity and the boys must be very focused if they want a result against them because, like us, the Omanis must win this match.”

Aide will be hoping his players can reproduce the form that saw them beat Bahrain 3-2 in a friendly in Manama last month. But midfielder Zulfahmi Arifin looks doubtful for today’s clash after going off early with an injury against Tajikistan.

Said Aide: “In his place, we will probably give (reserve forward) Khairul Nizam some playing time, because he has recovered from an injury suffered before the Games.”

Singapore lost to Tajikistan on Sunday thanks to Asrorov Siyovush’s 87th-minute winner, but defenders Baihakki Khaizan and Afiq Yunos, and goalkeeper Hassan Sunny — the side’s three permitted over-aged players — will use their experience to lift the team.

“The mood in our camp is good, the boys have recovered from the shock of losing and even though we know it will be a tough game, the thought that we may be out of the running if we lose is motivating everyone,” said Baihakki. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY IAN DE COTTA

TV Times: Singapore v Oman — “Live” streaming on Toggle at 6.55pm today, and delayed telecast on MediaCorp Okto at 11pm.