Contributed by Eric Ong

Phnom Penh, Sunday, September 27, 2009 – Singapore’s preparations for December’s SEA Games in Laos continued with a confidence-boosting 6-0 win over Cambodia U-23 at the National Stadium in Phnom Penh.

A hat-trick from second-half substitute Fadhil Noh in front of a packed 20,000 crowd helped the Singapore U-23 team to their biggest international win at U-23 level since the SEA Games became an U-23 event in 2001. Fahdhil’s 16-minute hattrick was also a first for the team since Fazrul Nawaz’s three goals in the 2007 SEA Games bronze medal playoff 5-0 win over Vietnam in Korat, Thailand.

Singapore started with an extremely young side – eight teenagers in the starting line-up – including highly rated National Football Academy (NFA) U-17 attacking midfielder Shahfiq Ghani.

The visitors took the game to the home side from the opening whistle and drew first blood 10 minutes before the break.

SAFFC fullback Shaiful Esah – the only 23-year-old in the starting 11 – broke down the left with an overlapping run before crossing for Khairul Nizam to smash home with unerring accuracy.

Young Lions winger Gabriel Quak then made it 2-0 six minutes later before the Fahdil Noh show in the second half. Another substitute Faizoz Hasan added the icing on the cake with the sixth three minutes from time.

Coach T Pathmanathan was beaming at the end of the match and praised the boys for their efforts.

“The players did very well. They showed a lot of hunger, enthusiasm and displayed an excellent workrate throughout.

“We showed good teamwork and finishing and we took our chances very well. The first goal was probably the best of the lot for me as the build-up play was excellent, ending with Shaiful’s run down the left and cross and Nizam’s finish.

“This (our finishing) is a big boost for our strikers and I hope they will continue on this vein for their remaining matches for the Young Lions before going for the SEA Games.”

Pathmanathan felt that apart from the convincing scoreline, it was an important outing in terms of gaining international experience for most of the young team.

“It wasn’t easy playing away from home in front of a big crowd and this would give them plenty of self-confidence ahead of the SEA Games where we can expect to play in similar conditions.”

Singapore U-23 Lineup
Jasper Chan (gk) (Hyrulnizam Juma’at 69′), Faritz Abdul Hameed (Madhu Mohana 72′), Eddie Chang (Afiq Yunos 69′), Safuwan Baharudin, Shaiful Esah (Irwan Shah 56′), Fazli Ayob (Firdaus Idros 46′), Hariss Harun (captain), Shahdan Sulaiman (Raihan Abdul Rahman 75′), Gabriel Quak (Nazrul Ahmad Nazari 63′), Shahfiq Ghani (Fairoz Hasan 46′) and Khairul Nizam (Fadhil Noh 52′)