Football: Singapore Lionesses Qualify for 2027 Asean Women’s Championship After Dramatic Penalty Shootout Win Over Cambodia
- John Yeong
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Heroic Goalkeeper Izairida Shakira Secures Historic Regional Qualification for Singapore Lionesses
23 JULY 2026, KUALA LUMPUR – The Singapore women’s national football team secured a historic qualification spot for the 2027 Asean Women’s Championship in dramatic fashion on July 22, defeating Cambodia 4-3 on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw at Kuala Lumpur Stadium.
Goalkeeper Izairida Shakira emerged as the ultimate heroine for the Lionesses, sealing the third-place play-off victory by blocking two penalties in the shootout. The 19-year-old shot-stopper denied Cambodia’s third attempt before diving to palm away Sovanmony Heng's decisive effort, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch as Singapore punched their ticket to the prestigious regional tournament.
"There were a lot of emotions rushing through me – excitement, relief, and everything else," Izairida said after the match. "The moment I stepped on the line... I just believed in myself and trusted my instincts, and the instincts qualified us for the championship."
A Sweet Revenge and Tactical Resilience
The victory marks a remarkable redemption arc for Singapore’s women's football team, who suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to the same Cambodian side in an international friendly in Bandung just a month prior.
Ranked 151st in the world, the Lionesses absorbed heavy pressure from world No. 113 Cambodia throughout the first half. Against the run of play, Singapore broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. Centre-back Nur Umairah Hamdan launched a precise long ball forward to star forward Danelle Tan, who expertly brought it down, fended off chasing defenders, and clinically slotted it past the keeper.
Cambodia fought back in the second half, equalizing via a 74th-minute penalty converted by Vipha Soeurn to force the match into penalties. After high-stakes conversions from her teammates, 19-year-old Sarah Zu’risqha confidently tucked away Singapore’s fifth penalty kick, paving the way for Izairida's game-winning save.
Praise from Head Coach Mihoko Ishida
Singapore head coach Mihoko Ishida lauded her squad's resilience, particularly highlighting their defensive improvements against crosses and set pieces—areas that plagued them in their previous encounter against Cambodia.
"It was a tough game. However, the players worked hard," Ishida noted. "Obviously, there were times when we really suffered because Cambodia showed very good attacking play, but again, including Izairida’s fantastic save, all the players put in a lot of effort."
The Lionesses put together an impressive tournament campaign, topping their group after a draw with Laos and a historic victory over Causeway rivals Malaysia—their first win against them in seven attempts—before a narrow 2-0 semi-final loss to Indonesia. Indonesia ultimately claimed the tournament title with a 5-0 victory over Laos in the final.
Looking Ahead to the 2027 Asean Women’s Championship
With qualification secured, Coach Ishida emphasized that the team will review their campaign strategy and continue building on their strong team chemistry as they prepare for the 2027 Asean Women’s Championship.
Reflecting on the hard-fought journey, Izairida added: "From here on, we know there’s a lot of work to do. We need to keep the number of injuries low and also really make sure our energy lasts through the game, but other than that I’m just more than happy that we get to the qualification line with this team and staff." #AFFWomensCup #SgFootball