New-look Singapore beat Myanmar 3-2 to earn Ogura’s first win

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Late goals from substitutes Shawal & Naqiuddin spared the blushes for the hosts

Barely a week after Sailors and Tampines’ collapse in the ACL2 competitions, there was a sense of deja vu as it seemed that the National Team would suffer the same fate as well and their wait for a first win since 17 October 2023 would have to go on.

Thankfully for the Lions, key changes and tactical switches made by Tsutomu Ogura in the final 15 minutes of the game helped turn the game around to earn his first international win as Head Coach.

A night of firsts

In the absence of several foreign-based players, including the trio of Fandi brothers, Ogura fielded a fairly experimental and young squad. Syazwan Buhari started in goal ahead of Izwan Mahbad, alongside 4 other Tampines players. There were also debuts for newly-minted Singapore citizen Kyoga Nakamura and Abdul Rasaq.

Singapore’s starting eleven against Myanmar (Photo: Jonathan @jontham128 for Grandstand)

While there was much lesser fanfare as compared to their last home game against South Korea in June, there was still a certain buzz surrounding the National Stadium as the Lions lined up for their first competitive match since their World Qualifier campaign more than 5 months ago.

Singapore took an early lead in the 5th minute through Farhan Zulkifli as the 22-year old tapped in from close range following a cross from his Hougang captain Nazrul Nazari for his first international goal.

The Lions looked comfortable for the bulk of the opening 45 with debutant Kyoga playing a much more advanced role, offering moments of brilliance in transition from defence to attack. Despite having a lion share of the possession, the home side failed to capitalise on their early lead – which they would soon regret in the second half.

Game of two halves

Ogura rang the changes after the break, with a triple substitution to bring in Faris Ramli, Hami Syahin and Naqiuddin Eunos but was hit back right from the get-go by the visitors.

Ye Yint Aung equalised for Myanmar in the 46th minute as Syazwan palmed an initial shot straight into the path of the substitute for him to tap into an empty net. The Burmese struck again just 5 minutes later, with another substitute Suan Lam Mang nodding in from a corner to silence the 6,061 home crowd.

“I don’t want to remember the beginning 10 minutes (of the second-half).. We lost two goals for nothing” Ogura lamented, with his side conceding through a set-piece and a lapse in defence.

Who else but

The Lions looked a far-cry from their first-half as they struggled to contain the much more physical 165-ranked Myanmar side.

Coach Ogura made further changes to bring in the familiar names of Shawal Anuar, Christopher van Huizen and Ryhan Stewart – with all three players combining to turn the game around.

Singapore finally broke the Myanmar defence in the 83rd minute with the old-birds Faris nodding down a Ryhan cross into the path of the 33-year old Shawal to smash home an equaliser.

Naqiuddin Eunos celebrates his first international goal with Faris Ramli (Photo: Jonathan @jontham128 for Grandstand)

Just a minute later, it was Faris again who found space down the left flank to find Naqiuddin Eunos, as the in-form Geylang International attacker’s shot slipped through the keeper’s hand to return the lead to Singapore.

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Man of the Match

It wasn’t a vintage or full-throttle attacking display by any chance as some optimists might hope, but it was enough to give Singapore and Ogura a much-needed win, which was all that truly mattered.

And the star of the night was no other than Kyoga – who ran the entire pitch and often found himself the subject of hard tackles and marking from a very physical Myanmar team.

Myanmar #12 receives a yellow card for his challenge on Kyoga Nakamura
(Photo: Jonathan @jontham128 for Grandstand)

The work did not stop after 90 minutes as the 28-year old continued to make his rounds around Kallang to take selfies with fans, who will undoubtedly be excited by what they’ve seen in his first game in red.

Despite the win and Man of the Match award, the BG Tampines player is not satisfied.

“We had (a lot of) chances, but we didn’t score the goal. We should have scored (more) goals simply in the first half.”

Test Bed

The Lions will next play Chinese Taipei on Monday (18 Nov), where Ogura is likely to tinker and experiment with his starting line-up again. The Japanese coach was tight-lipped again when he was quizzed about his preferred first eleven.

“It’s very difficult to answer, because Kyoga is here,” he joked.

Ogura also handed the armband to Shah Shahiran – who coincidentally celebrated his 25th birthday.

“Hariss Harun is still the main captain.. (but) there are many experienced players, not only Shah but also Kyoga, Hami and other senior players who can take responsibility”.

The change in captaincy is perhaps a signal to the other younger players to step up sooner, rather than later as Ogura looks to inject more energy and identity to his playing philosophy for the upcoming AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup.