SINGAPORE – Despite a sixth minute strike by Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad, Team Singapore’s youth footballers were defeated 2-1 by Group B opponents Iraq in their opening game of the Nanjing Asian Youth Games, which begins officially on Friday.

Competing at the Jiangning Football Training Base on Tuesday afternoon, the Under-14 boys drew first blood against their Iraqi opponents, with forward Ikhsan beating goalkeeper Rabaei Hasanain to give the Singaporeans a 1-0 lead. But the celebrations proved premature for the teenagers, with Iraqi hitman Alshammari Mohanad levelling the score in the 31st minute before scoring a brace after the half-time break (43rd minute).

The Singaporeans will face-off against Kuwait in their second Group B match on Thursday, before taking on South Korea in their final group encounter at Wutaishan Stadium on Saturday.