SEA Games 2025: Concentration issues dog Young Lions again in campaign-ending loss

BANGKOK – At half-time, as the Singapore Under-22s walked off the pitch at the Rajamangala National Stadium, it seemed they would leave their 2025 SEA Games football campaign with some credit in the bank.

The scoreline on the jumbotron then read Thailand 0 Singapore 0.

But at full-time, the 3-0 defeat by record 16-time champions and hosts Thailand once again laid bare the reality of the defensive shortcomings and psychological vulnerabilities that have come to characterise the Young Lions under head coach Firdaus Kassim.

Their second defeat in as many matches – they lost 3-1 to Timor-Leste on Dec 6 – confirmed that Singapore would finish bottom of the three-team Group A and bow out of the SEA Games football tournament at the group stage for a sixth consecutive time.

The latest loss came after the Thais scored three goals in just seven second-half minutes, with a brace from striker Yotsakorn Burapha, who plays his club football in Singapore with Hougang United.  

This is not the first time the team have collapsed by conceding multiple times during a short spell. In their Asian Football Confederation Under-23 qualifiers in September, they conceded four goals in 14 minutes to lose 4-1 to Bangladesh. Against the Timorese on Dec 6, the Young Lions conceded goals in the 42nd and the first minute of first-half stoppage time.

Firdaus said it was clear that the Thais were the better side, and opined that conceding three goals in quick succession changed the game. However, he refused to blame it on a lack of fitness.

He said: “I don’t think fitness is an issue. We were still competitive throughout the whole game and we tried to press the entire game. It is a matter of concentration. These boys are still young, and this is part of development and growth. We have to accept that and understand.”

“Moving forward, with more experience like this for the younger ones, things will get better. It can only be upwards from here,” he added.

Defender Raoul Suhaimi said the team were very disappointed with the result but insisted they gave their all.

On what went wrong during the seven-minute spell, he said: “I don’t think it is a case of (lack of) fitness. Against a top team like Thailand, even the slightest loss of focus during the game will get punished.”

Meanwhile, Thailand coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, who made six changes to his side, said: After the first half, we told the players to be more aggressive and to go out and get the result.”

The Young Lions came into the encounter against Thailand, who thumped Timor-Leste 6-1 in their opener, requiring a massive win to qualify for the final four for the first time since 2013.

The three group winners and the best second-placed team advance to the semi-finals.

Unlike the opening game, where they found themselves 3-1 down at half-time, the Young Lions were eager to prove their worth in the first 45 minutes against the hosts.

Despite a 7,896-strong crowd backing the hosts by creating a raucous atmosphere with their voices and horns, it was Singapore who started brighter.

Nur Muhammad Asis’ effort went just over the bar in the opening five minutes before he rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort in the 38th minute.

But both teams returned for the second period looking markedly different. 

Just four minutes after the restart, Siraphop Wandee found space in the box to arrow a left-footed shot past Aizil Yazid and into goal. In the 51st minute, Siraphop turned provider as Yotsakorn latched on to a through ball from the winger, beat defender Kieran Teo for pace and proceeded to slot the ball through Aizil’s legs.

Four minutes later, Yotsakorn rounded off the scoring with the goal of the night – a breathtaking free kick from just outside the box. 

Thailand will now advance to the semi-finals as Group A winners, alongside Vietnam, who topped Group B after a 2-0 win over Malaysia on Dec 11, and the Philippines, who won Group C. 

The final group-stage game between Indonesia and Myanmar on Dec 12 will determine who takes the remaining last-four berth. The Indonesians require a three-goal win to advance. If they fall short, Malaysia will seal the last semi-final spot.

For Singapore, with their return home imminent, the inquest will begin again, as it has after each of the past five editions.

When asked by The Straits Times if he will step down, Firdaus said: “It’s too early for me to answer now. I’ll have a conversation with the management and see what the direction is.

“I mean, it’s definitely a difficult challenge, and we knew this from the very beginning. And as much as possible, I would like to contribute to Singapore football, but again, I need to recover from this and re-evaluate first before taking the next step forward.”