SINGAPORE – Youth footballer Nathan Mao showed on Friday just why he became the Singapore Premier League’s youngest debutant earlier in 2023. Competing in the Lion City Cup (LCC) semi-finals, the teenager notched a brace in the Singapore Under-15s’ 3-1 win over Selangor FC.
The 15-year-old Lion City Sailors midfielder, who led the line for the National Development Centre (NDC) side, displayed predatory instincts in front of goal with 1,530 fans in attendance at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
His first-half double and second-half assist helped Singapore book their place in Sunday’s final against Thai side BG Pathum United.
Nathan said at the post-match press conference: “I usually play as an attacking midfielder but, in this style of play, I enjoy being the striker, and I feel I can contribute to the team in this position.”
U-15s coach Angel Toledano praised Nathan’s performance, saying: “He played a good game and... without the ball he also did a great job.
“I think he has great finishing in the final third and when the team needed the goal, he was the one who scored, so the decision was right to play him up top.”
Nathan has enjoyed a breakthrough year, and he admitted that he was surprised by his achievements.
He said: “I definitely wasn’t expecting it. At the start of the year, I set some goals and the highest were to make my league debut and obviously play for the national team, knowing the U-15 tournament was coming up.
“I’ve done okay so far, and I’m hopeful that in the next few years I’ll keep on working hard and not rest on my laurels.”
It did not take long for the Singapore U-15s to open accounts. Six minutes into the match, a searching ball from Harith Danish Irwan found Uchenna Eziakor on the left. He shimmied past a defender before laying the ball off for a lurking Nathan to steer home from close range.
The Cubs doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when Harith’s powerful strike squirmed underneath Selangor goalkeeper Muhammad Zulfan Iqbal’s arms and Nathan reacted quickest to make sure the ball crossed the line.
He then turned provider in the 77th minute when his long ball found substitute Helmi Shahrol in the box. The 15-year-old, who had come off the bench barely 16 seconds earlier, coolly controlled the ball before smashing a rasping shot into the top corner.
Selangor bagged a consolation goal with the last kick of the game as Vincenzo Oliveo Dozzel headed home from a corner.
Singapore will face BG Pathum, who sealed their place in Sunday’s final after dispatching Indonesia’s Borneo FC 2-0 courtesy of an own goal by Abdu Sultoni and a late strike by Chaiwat Khamta.
Toledano believes his side have done well to maintain their fitness and “most of the boys who played today are healthy”. However, he revealed that right-back Dani Qalish, who was stretchered off in the second half, suffered a muscle strain, and they are awaiting updates on his injury.
Looking ahead to the final, Toledano said: “We’ll try to put the strongest team possible in the final because we really want to win the LCC.
“At the end of the day, I told the boys our objective is for Singaporean fans to enjoy and believe in these boys because I think the future is bright.”
