SEA Games 2025: Young Lions on the brink of elimination after 3-1 loss to Timor-Leste

BANGKOK – The scene at the full-time whistle said it all.

Some Young Lions held their heads in their hands, some pulled their red jerseys over tear-streaked faces, while others simply lay flat on the Rajamangala National Stadium pitch, after slumping to a 3-1 loss to Timor-Leste in their SEA Games opener on Dec 6.

Hanging their heads, the Singapore Under-22s then dragged their feet as they headed for the team bus. 

They could soon be on the plane home, too. 

Defeat meant that the Young Lions’ hopes of qualifying for their first SEA Games semi-final since 2013 are all but over and a sixth consecutive group-stage exit is looming.

They now need to beat hosts Thailand by a significant margin in their final Group A match on Dec 11 to stand any chance of reaching the last four. The Thais had thumped the Timorese 6-1 in the group’s opening match on Dec 3.

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

Singapore coach Firdaus Kassim, still without a win in a competitive match since taking charge in June, apologised to fans for the loss, but added that the performance was not for the lack of trying.

He said: “We apologise to the fans. It’s not what the fans expect. We really urge them to understand that this is part of the journey to build for future campaigns. Nobody likes to lose, myself included, but I think this is (one of) the obstacles we have to go through in order to see success in the near future.

Summing up the game, he said: “We started well. We didn’t build on it and we conceded three easy goals.”

He admitted that it was a “very painful result, especially in the manner that we lost”, adding: “With this format, what we can do now is to focus on the next game. It is difficult to think about qualification. We need to try and get the best outcome possible.”

Young Lions captain Amir Syafiz also said he was proud of the team’s performance, adding: “It is what it is. We got to learn from our mistakes from this game, and take the positives to the next.”

“Everybody did their best. Everybody showed 100 per cent even after cramps, they still fight until the last minute, so I’m proud of the team’s performance, even though we didn’t get the points,” he added.

Timor-Leste coach Emral Bustamam said he was proud of his charges.

Speaking through a translator, the Indonesian said: “Timor-Leste is below Singapore in terms of facilities… but the players work hard even though they don’t get enough financial (benefits). They do it to promote themselves. Maybe they (hope to) get scouted by Thai clubs. That’s the dream of the players.

“This win means a lot for us.”

It looked to be Singapore’s night when Amir gave them the lead in the 11th minute. Latching onto a through ball, Khairin Nadim surged into the box and took a shot that came back off the post, but Amir converted from close range.

It was good as it got for them. 

Timor-Leste equalised eight minutes later when forward Vabio Canavaro lashed in his effort past Aizil Yazid after the Singapore goalkeeper had palmed away Tristan Arrarte’s shot from inside the box.

The goal sparked jubilant celebrations from a pocket of about 50 Timorese fans, whose shrieks and applause echoed across the largely empty 51,552-capacity stadium, with the official crowd figure being announced as 2,257.

With their confidence boosted, Timor-Leste took the game to Singapore and got a deserved lead in the 43rd minute.

Olagar Xavier got the better of Aqil Yazid down the right flank before his cross found Anizo Correia, who lashed it in unmarked despite the presence of at least three Singapore players in the box.

It got worse before the break for the Young Lions when Canavaro robbed Amir of the ball inside Singapore’s half, escaped a sliding challenge from Aqil before firing at goal. While Aizil made an initial save, Canavaro tapped the ball in to make it 3-1.

The 18-year-old Timorese forward then whipped off his shirt before launching into the iconic “siu” celebration made famous by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Singapore tried in vain to score in the second half with substitute Nicolas Benninger going the closest in the 81st minute when his close-range effort came off the foot of the post, before Khairin’s follow-up was saved by the Timorese goalkeeper.

At the last Games in Cambodia, the Young Lions did not win any of their four matches and finished bottom of their group. Their three losses then included a 7-0 hammering at the hands of Causeway rivals Malaysia. 

The Young Lions were not in the Singapore National Olympic Council’s provisional SEA Games list released in August, and managed to secure their spot only on appeal. This result will only serve to cast doubts on their participation at future editions.