SINGAPORE: A second-half strike from Ikhsan Fandi ensured his father did not lose his first match in charge as Singapore came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Mauritius in an international friendly at the Bishan Stadium on Friday (Sep 7).
The visitors took the lead in the fourth minute through Jonathan Justin, before 19-year-old Ikhsan found the net in the 75th minute as the Lions claimed a credible draw.
Fandi Ahmad, who was appointed as the interim coach in May by the Football Association of Singapore, will lead the national team for the 2018 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in November.
Singapore last won the biennial tournament in 2012 and are without a competitive victory in almost three years.
But in a first glimpse of what could be to come, Fandi showed he was not afraid to inject fresh blood into the side, handing debuts to brothers Zulqarnaen and Zulfadhmi Suzliman against a Mauritian team 14 spots above Singapore, who are ranked 169th, in the FIFA rankings.
Debutant Zulfadhmi Suzliman gets past his marker during the Singapore versus Mauritius international friendly match on Friday (Sep 7). (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
But the away side weren’t standing on ceremony for the new Lions boss and took the lead after just four minutes. A Jeremy Villeneuve shot was parried by Singapore custodian Izwan Mahbud but Justin, who played for Etoile FC in the S.League in 2011, was on hand to poke home the loose ball.
It took the Lions almost 16 minutes to register their first shot – as Ikhsan forced Kevin Jean-Louis into a save.
Safuwan Baharudin was next to try his luck five minutes later but his dipping volley dropped comfortably into the keeper’s hands.
Singapore’s best outlet was the nippy Zulfadhmi on the left and he almost got himself on the scoresheet midway through the first half but his shot was saved.
Francisco Filho’s away side almost doubled their lead early in the second half, a fizzing strike from Gary Noel forcing Izwan into a stunning fingertip save as he kept the home side in the game.
At the other end, the Lions came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 67th minute, as veteran defender Baihakki Khaizan, on as a substitute, headed narrowly wide.
It came down to Ikhsan to save Singapore’s blushes – as he slotted home his first international goal in the 75th minute, displaying the same predatory instincts as his father Fandi used to.
Singapore have three more international friendlies lined up – Fiji next Tuesday (Sep 11), Mongolia (Oct 12) and Cambodia (Oct 16), before heading to a training camp in Japan as preparation for the Suzuki Cup.
