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Profligate Singapore salvage draw against Myanmar

SINGAPORE – With just six goals from 13 games, the Lions have struggled to find the back of the net in recent months.

File photo of the Singapore national football team in training ahead of their friendly match against Myanmar at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Photo courtesy of FAS Facebook page

File photo of the Singapore national football team in training ahead of their friendly match against Myanmar at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Photo courtesy of FAS Facebook page

SINGAPORE – With just six goals from 13 games, the Lions have struggled to find the back of the net in recent months.

And the lack of goals continued to trouble the Singapore national football team on Tuesday night, as head coach V. Sundramoorthy’s men spurned several chances to eke out a 1-1 draw in a closed door friendly against Myanmar at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Safuwan Baharudin and Faritz Hameed were responsible for squandering chances to notch a win for the Lions, with Faritz somehow failing to connect with the ball less than a yard out from an open goal in the second half. With Myanmar’s Aung Thu scoring the opening goal for his side, Singapore only avoided defeat after Nazrul Nazari scored the equaliser deep into added time.

Sundram acknowledged afterwards that goal-scoring is an area they have to improve on before their crucial Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup qualifier against Taiwan on Saturday.

“Obviously we still need to score goals, that’s the only way we are going to win games,” he said. “It’s always a concern, but the most important thing is that we hit the target a few times, and on another day we could have scored three (at least).

“Their goalkeeper made an excellent save from Safuwan and how Faritz missed, I don’t know, maybe the ball bobbled, but chances-wise I think we had better chances.

“I think we were the better team today, we had many chances (and were superior) possession-wise and stats-wise.”

Myanmar’s opening goal just after the hour mark came on the break after a short corner routine from Singapore went awry and left them outnumbered at the back, with Aung Thu calmly finishing off a one-on-one situation.

There were a couple other counter-attacks that had the Lions defence on the ropes and Sundram admitted it is something they have to work on as well.

“Counter-attacking (from the opponents), that’s the only concern, so we need to address that (defending) in the transition,” he said. “(Otherwise) Shakir (Hamzah) and Madhu (Mohana) are comfortable on the flanks, and Irfan (Fandi) as per normal stood out. Normally, we also have Hassan (Sunny) and Daniel (Bennett) talking to the boys, that’s important.”

Indeed, the visitors hardly threatened during the match, but it looked like it was not going to be Singapore’s day until substitute Nazrul popped up with a reply in the fourth minute of injury time.

Khairul Nizam sped away down the right before showing good composure to pick out Nazrul in the box, with the Hougang United man side-footing a fine first-time finish beyond Kyaw Zin Htet from 12 yards.

It prevented a possible morale-sapping defeat ahead of Saturday’s match and the performances of the two substitutes would also have given Sundram something to think about when he trims the 27-man squad to the required 23.

“Definitely, morale-wise and everything, the goal is a boost, and it’s an excellent cross by Nizam, and Nazrul scored a great first time goal, so there are other players who are showing me they are up for selection,” he said.

“I think Nizam came in (after) a few minutes and did something and Nazrul, you know, put himself for selection, so you know players are fighting for their places.”

The 51-year-old added that Taiwan, ranked three places below Singapore in the Fifa world rankings at 160th, would require a different kind of strategy, although he declined to elaborate on his plans.

“They are a very organised team and I feel that they play good football,” he said. “The performance on the day is key to us. Today is more of a warm-up, against Myanmar who are playing a different type of football but against Taiwan, they are quite a straightforward (side) and I believe they have improved so much and have good attacking players.

“But it’s a good warm-up game (tonight) and it will put the boys in good spirit against Taiwan.”

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