Singapore U17 applaud the fans for their support, 27 October 2024
SINGAPORE, 28 OCTOBER 2024 – National pride was on the line when Singapore faced off against Guam in their final group game of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers campaign on 27 October. With the hosts still reeling from two harsh losses, the pressure was on the U17s to earn their first points of the tournament. Singapore would respond to that pressure with the same fighting spirit that earned the praises of Head Coach Angel Toledano in his previous post-match conferences, bowing out of the tournament with a dominant 14-0 win over Guam in front of a 664-strong crowd at the Bishan Stadium.
Singapore made five changes to their starting lineup against Tajikistan, with Erdy Thaqib, Zaki Jumlan, Uchenna Eziakor, and goalkeeper Emre Masjuri all earning their first starts of the campaign. Skipper Iliya Naufal also returns to the team after serving a one-match suspension after receiving two yellow cards against Oman.
Faced with a Guam side that conceded 51 goals in its past two games, Singapore started the game on the front foot, looking to lay down an early marker. There was an added element of proactiveness in the home side’s direct approach, and it did not take long for them to ask questions of the away side’s defence as Uchenna cannoned a shot off the post in the 11th minute.
Just four minutes later, Singapore was once again denied by the frame of the goal when Zaki played a line-breaking pass to put Dani Qalish one-on-one with Guam goalkeeper Renzel Reburiano, but his fierce effort ricocheted off the crossbar.
Singapore were knocking intensely on the door, and soon enough their breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Erdy weaved past two Guam defenders and fired a shot into the roof of the net. The home side quickly doubled their lead two minutes later when the ball fell to Helmi Shahrol in the box, who clinically stabbed it past the keeper.
Guam responded with a chance of their own in the 26th minute, but Giacomo Bustamante’s effort was pushed away by Singapore goalkeeper Emre.
In the 32nd minute, Uchenna ghosted in behind the Guam defence and took down a Luth Harith cross with his chest, before calmly poking it past the goalkeeper.
Helmi got his second of the game in the 38th minute as he latched onto a loose pass from Guam skipper Micah Elwell and chipped it into the roof of the net. He would turn provider three minutes later when he pulled the ball across the box for Erdy, who was on hand to tap it in for his second and Singapore’s fifth.
There was an element of fortune about Singapore’s sixth goal when Guam custodian Renzel misjudged the flight of Uchenna’s long-range effort, allowing it to slip through his fingers and into the net – giving Singapore a commanding 6-0 lead at half-time.
Uchenna Eziakor scores a goal for Singapore against Guam, 27 October 2024
Singapore picked up where they left off in the first half, with Uchenna completing his hattrick just three minutes into the second half when he headed in a Sarrvin Raj cross at the back post. Soon after, Dani scored the home side’s pick of the bunch in the 51st minute when his effort from outside the Guam penalty area found the top corner.
With Singapore racking up the goals, they still showed no signs of slowing down as they continued to pour bodies forward to widen their lead. Uchenna would add another goal to his tally in the 53rd minute when he produced a brilliant first-time sidefoot finish into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the game.
The home side went into double digits in the 68th minute when substitute Raihan Rafiq capitalised on a miscontrolled pass from goalkeeper Renzel to score Singapore’s 10th goal. Another Singapore substitute – Ahmad Martin would benefit from a cruel deflection off Guam defender Micah which put his shot past the Guam goalkeeper in the 74th minute.
Singapore’s ruthlessness was capped off by further strikes from Andy Reefqy, Raihan got his brace and Helmi sealed his hattrick, which completed a night to remember for the U17s who ended the game with a 14-0 scoreline.
Man-of-the-Match Helmi Shahrol poses for a photo with Singapore U17 Head Coach Angel Toledano at the Post-Match Press Conference, 27 October 2024.
Reflecting on his side’s campaign as a whole, Singapore U17 Head Coach Angel Toledano felt that his side had grown throughout the tournament, stating: “I think the boys did very well in this tournament. We have built on our performances in every game that we played, especially today where the boys didn’t stop and wanted to score more goals to fight for the country. The team has improved a lot since the first game against Oman, and they are getting better and better every game.”
The Spaniard also added that experiences like these are extremely beneficial to his side, adding: “The boys usually have the ball and dominate the game when they play in Singapore, but here we have improved a lot off the ball – especially in a middle and low defensive block when we are facing stronger opponents. Moving forward, we will analyse all the games and look at all the different aspects of our football. I will continue to work hard with the boys.”
In the earlier group game, Tajikistan secured their spot in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Finals after beating Oman 2-0 to confirm their status as Group J winners.
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