Contributed by Visakan Subramaniam

Binh Duong, Vietnam, Saturday, October 10, 2009 – The Singapore Olympic team beat the Vietnamese Under-21 team 3-2 in the opening match of the Vietnam Youth Newspaper Cup yesterday in Binh Duong, Vietnam.

Singapore got off to the perfect start when Shafiq Ghani gave the visitors the lead from close range after just one minute.

The Vietnamese regrouped and equalised ten minutes later through Ngoc Thong. The hosts controlled the rest of the half and created numerous chances but it was Singapore who led into the break.

A swift Singapore counterattack ended with Young Lions striker Hafiz Abu Sujad stroking the ball into the goal one minute before the interval.

Vietnam equalised through a penalty midway through the second half but Hafiz got his second goal of the match after taking advantage of some hesitant defending by the hosts 15 minutes from time.

"We worked very hard and it was never an easy game. Vietnam had nearly about 65% possession in the game but they wasted most of their chances. We had fewer chances but my players converted them and that made the difference today," said coach V Sundram Moorthy.

“I have kept an eye on Hafiz (Abu Sujad) for the past year three years and he has improved a lot over the years. He is getting better and better and if he takes the opportunities that comes his way, he will do well for Singapore in the coming years," said Sundram about Man of the Match and two-goal hero, Hafiz

Singapore's next match is against Thailand on Sunday 11 October.

Singapore Lineup
1 Muhammad Syazwan, 5 Ali Hudzaifi, 3 Rahim As’ari, 15 Abdil Qaiyyim (14 Saiful Bin Bahari 65'), 2 Muhammad Firman, 8 Hafiz Abu Sujad, 12 Fabian Kwok (6 Hidhir Hasbiallah 28'), 13 Izzdin Shafiq, 7 Shahfiq Ghani (9 Zulfadhli Emran 90'), 11 Aliff Azmi

International Under-21 Football Tournament – Vietnam Youth Newspaper Cup 2009
Schedule

Group Stage
Singapore vs Thailand
11 October 2009
3.30pm

Semi-finals
16 October 2009
3.30pm and 6.00pm

3rd/4th Placing
18 October 2009
3.00pm

Final
18 October 2009
5.30pm