In 2010, it was a group of 15-year-olds that brought our nation to its feet by winning the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) football Bronze medal and in the process, winning the hearts of a nation.
Fast forward 2011; it is yet another group of 15-year-olds that will be the talk of the town for some time to come.
Kick starting the 23rd edition of the Lion City Cup, our Team Singapore Under-15 (U-15) boys showed that they possessed finesse, determination and strength as they came from behind to beat Newcastle United’s U-15 boys, 4-3.
Starting the match cautiously, Singapore conceded a goal within four minutes of the kick off when our custodian, Heirul Suhanes fumbled a routine catch from a corner.
However, it took only 10 minutes for parity to be restored, as Zulfadhmi Suzliman was on hand to tap the ball into the Newcastle’s net when Azhar Ramli’s shot crashed off the post.
Our U-15 boys gradually got into the game and were unlucky to concede another goal in the 32nd minute and went into the break trailing, 2-1.
Our boys immediately signaled their intent for an equalizer once the second half got on the way. A quick free kick within a minute of play saw Ehvin Sasidharan’s cheeky chip bounce off the bar.
10 minutes later, it was the same story, as the woodwork was again on hand to deny Singapore the equalizer as Adam Swandi’s shot bounce off the post.
Singapore soon found themselves 3-1 down after Newcastle’s Alex Gillead burst through the Singapore’s defence and smashed in Newcastle’s third of the night.
At this point, it all seemed lost for Singapore but the boys dug deep and carried on playing with all guns blazing.
Just like how Newcastle’s Premier League team came back to draw 4-4 with Arsenal in the Barclay’s Premier League, our boys came back from what seemed to be a certain defeat to score three goals in eight minutes to give Singapore a 4-3 victory.
Starting with a goal from a short corner in the 87th minute, our boys turned on the afterburners and with the crowd behind them, they went in search for an equaliser.
At the end of the 90 minutes, the fourth official raised his board to signal five minutes of added time and this may the crowd cheer even louder, aching the boys to persevere and go in search for the equaliser. Jalan Besar stadium erupted when substitutes Rifqi Yazid and Faridzuan Fuad scored two goals within those five minutes to snatch a win for Singapore.
Cheers of joy erupted as the referee blew the final whistle and as the boys huddled in the centre circle with their knees bent in and chest pumped up, it was a reminiscence of that iconic roar of our YOG football boys.
The similarities do not stop there as with R.Aarvin marshalling the defence, Amirul Azmi commanding the midfield and skipper Adam Swandi’s silky skills, this team like seemed like a younger version of our YOG boys and like them, they certainly played their way into the hearts of those present at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
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