Singapore bounced back from their opening loss to Korea Republic with an encouraging 2-0 victory over Hong Kong, China in the Under-16 girls’ competition of the Lion City Cup 2025, delighting passionate home fans in the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The Singaporeans earned Head Coach Yeong Sheau Shyan’s plaudits for their composed and polished performance throughout the evening match on Thursday (10 July).
“I’m super happy with the results and the way the team played. After the last match (against Korea), we set out to correct some mistakes. During training, the players worked hard to get what we wanted for this match,” she said.
“They understand their roles better, and that allowed them to settle into the game much faster.”
For Yeong, the victory was a reflection of the team’s continued hard work behind the scenes.
“Our players have been very focused on trying to improve throughout this tournament. The focus was on the process of getting our tactics right, and the players kept their mindset positive. I think that’s what allowed us to deliver a better performance today.”
Singapore got their first goal of the tournament in the fourth minute when Madrid CFF youth player Ain Salleh unleashed a piledriver that Hong Kong goalkeeper Chan Tsz Yiu could not keep out.
The strike ignited rapturous cheers from the stands, which included a contingent of Ain’s relatives.
Describing their support as making “a big difference”, the Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) scholar said, “It motivated me and I wanted to make them proud.”
“Training in Madrid is usually more physical than in Singapore. This has made me a more physical player and also more mentally prepared to play football here in the Lion City Cup,” the young striker added.
Albirex Niigata (S) Women’s midfielder Verona Lim got the all-important two-goal cushion just before the hour mark when she found herself in a two-on-one situation on the left flank with Ain in support. The 15-year-old went on her own instead, cutting in and wrapping the ball skilfully around Tsz Yiu, who could only watch on as it bounced into the net.
Substitute Risya Rizqyqa came close to netting the hosts’ third in the latter stages, muscling past Chong Hoi Ching before getting her shot off, only for Tsz Yiu to parry it away.
With a closing clash against Cambodia looming ahead on Saturday (12 July), Yeong is aware of the potential fitness issues arising from a tight playing schedule but is hopeful of a positive result.
“I can see that there is some fatigue. We are trying our best to help the players recover, but it’s not so easy. They are not used to playing so many matches in such a short period. So that will be our challenge,” she said. “This win has given us the confidence that we can attack. So surely that will bring us forward to (our next game against) Cambodia. Now we have to keep ourselves grounded and try to do more.”
Hong Kong Head Coach Chan Shuk Chi acknowledged the full-throated support from the home fans, describing it as an “advantage”.
“The two teams are close in ability and skill, but the host team enjoyed the support of the spectators, so I think they had an advantage,” Chan said.
In the earlier game on Thursday (10 July), Korea Republic followed up their opening 9-0 blowout with an emphatic 12-0 win over Cambodia, as their substitutes stole the show, netting all seven of the second-half goals from off the bench.
The Koreans drew first blood in the seventh minute when striker Cho An rose highest to nod in midfielder Jeong Byeol’s cross from a corner. An then notched her brace nine minutes later when she was picked out by a clever one-touch pass from teammate Kim Hee Jin.
The 15-year-old, who is leading the tournament’s goal-scoring charts with five goals, turned provider in the 39th minute when she outmuscled the defence to tee up Lee Sunhee, who squeezed her shot below opposition keeper Khann Sokhim. Captain Woo Seoyeon made it 4-0 with a strike from distance five minutes later, while Hee Jin got on the scoresheet in first-half stoppage time with a shot from close range.
Midfielder Son Seohyeon took just four minutes to resume the scoring after the interval, curling her shot into the top corner from range. Substitute Ko Jieun followed suit with a classy finish from outside the box in the 68th minute.
Korea showcased their strength in depth by wrapping up the 12-0 drubbing with goals from substitutes Hong Jiwon (72), Kim Eunbyul (77), Kim Haneul (90+2), with Seohyeon (83) and Jieun (87), ending the evening with two goals each.
Korea Head Coach Kim Eunjung was pleased with her players’ showing, highlighting key contributions from the substitutes.
“We didn’t start the way we wanted, but these are young players, and as time went by, they adapted well to the tactical changes. They showed good progress and adaptability during the game,” she said.
“My plan for the starting lineup was to rotate the players and give them equal playing time. The substitutes did well and met my expectations.”
One of those replacements was 14-year-old midfielder Jieun, who picked up the player-of-the-match honours.
“I didn’t expect to win player of the match, but I was excited to score. I was thankful for the chance from coach (Kim) to take a free kick, which I scored from, and that was nice for me,” she said, referring to her set-piece howitzer that looped over a stranded Sokhim.
Cambodia Head Coach Ouk Suthy noted the gulf in class between the sides but hailed his charges’ effort throughout the energy-sapping clash.
“Result aside, we tried our best today and we will learn from it. I think we improved from the first match. But it’s football, we need time to get good progression,” he said.
“Let’s see how my players recover, because we don’t have much time. We already know that today we’ve exhausted all of our energy. If we have a good recovery, I think we will play better against Singapore.”
With her team set to face Hong Kong on Saturday (12 July) at 5pm and just one draw away from clinching the inaugural Lion City Cup Girls’ U16 title, Kim said: “We are giving most of the players equal opportunities and playing time. And as a result, we have a diverse range of players scoring goals, so the atmosphere is very good. We are in a very good position ahead of the next match.”
The Lion City Cup continues with the second round of matches in the boys’ competition on Friday (11 July), with the Philippines taking on Hong Kong at 5pm, while Cambodia face Singapore at 8pm.
Tickets are available from Ticketek and at the ticket booth at the North Gate of the Jalan Besar Stadium on matchdays.
