Third time was not the charm for the Singapore Under-23 football team as they slipped to a 0-2 loss to the Myanmar U-23s at the Merdeka Tournament on Wednesday evening.

The Young Lions, who were without six key players away on senior national duty, had also suffered 0-1 reverses to hosts Malaysia and a Thailand selection during the week-long tournament in Kuantan.

Myanmar captain Kyaw Ko Ko's 15th-minute header from close range, after goalkeeper Neezam Aziz flapped at a cross, and an injury-time effort from Soe Kyaw Kyaw were the only highlights in a dour contest. Khairul Nizam came closest to scoring for the Young Lions, but the striker fluffed his shot from eight metres out with just the goalkeeper to beat.

V. Sundramoorthy's men have one last shot at redemption when they face the Thais in the third-place play-off on Saturday. Malaysia, who defeated Thailand 3-0 in the evening's other tie, will take on Myanmar in the final.