The Singapore Under-20 Women’s Team fell 5-0 to Vietnam in the opening match of their AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying campaign, but Fazrul Nawaz’s charges showed glimpses of potential in Hanoi’s Vietnam Youth Football Training Center in Hanoi in a first-half performance that augured well.
“Vietnam is a quality team and they have qualified for the U20 Asian Cup before – even their senior team has qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup before. So, yes, the girls should be proud of their performance (against Vietnam),” said the former Singapore international.“Against this kind of team, especially in the first half, I thought we really fought well.”
The Singapore women took the initiative in a first half performance that saw the visitors create several goal-scoring chances, and went into the break just one goal down. That facet of their performance is what Fazrul wants to build on.
Rallying his team ahead of their remaining two matches against the Kyrgyz Republic and Hong Kong, China, he added, “I want them to take the positives of how they played in the first half and how they created chances… I want them to believe that they can do it and play the football that we want to play in the second and third match.”
Singapore custodian Chantale Lamasan was an imposing presence in goal, pulling several saves to keep the score level until the 15th-minute opener by Nguyen Vinh Thuc Nghi. The Vietnamese forward was on hand to score after the ball rebounded to her in the box, following a Nurzaheera Maisarah block.
Even then, Chantale got a hand to Nguyen’s shot at full stretch but could not prevent the ball from trickling past the line.
Chantale was in fine form keeping Vietnam at bay for the rest of the first half with a one-handed flying save in the 24th minute and an impressive double save just minutes later.
Building on Chantale’s stirring showing in goal, the Singapore women went on the offensive.
Bombing down the wing in the 32nd minute, Yuvika Suresh picked out a run by Lion City Sailors midfielder Sarah Zu’rishqa who unleashed a shot at the edge of the box, but it was claimed by opposition keeper Le Thi Thu.
As halftime approached, Red Star Belgrade forward Mulan Ayliffe pickpocketed Dao Khanh Vy in midfield and threaded a through ball for Chloe Koh, who was through on goal, but the danger was hurriedly cleared by the Vietnam goalkeeper.
“We spoke about what (would happen) if they scored first. I told them not to let their heads down. I always told them to look forward and think about their next action,” said Fazrul. “And I thought they really did well. For these girls, against a quality team like Vietnam, to start off and to absorb that pressure from them, it was very pleasing.”
However, Vietnam came out of the break all guns blazing with a quickfire double in the 48th and 50th minute by Y Za Luong and Nguyen Ngo Thao Nguyen respectively.
The hosts wrapped up the victory late into the game with a speculative lob by substitute Nguyen Thi Thuong (86th minute) and a tight-angle shot from Ca Thi Puong (89th).
“To maintain focus throughout the game, that’s the key learning point I’d like the girls to take away from this game,” said Fazrul, who was acutely aware of the need to manage fatigue levels, especially with his charges having to play three matches across just six days.
He added: “We need to concentrate and maintain our actions throughout the 90 minutes.”
The Singapore U20 side will next face the Kyrgyz Republic on Friday, 8 August. Kick off is at 5pm (SGT).
