Singapore Football Team Falls to 2-1 Defeat Against Malaysia Despite Late Fightback

Ilhan Fandi’s late strike not enough as Lions fall short in Bukit Jalil thriller

PHOTO: FAS

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 September 2025 – The Singapore national football team suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to regional rivals Malaysia in a tense FIFA ‘A’ international friendly at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Thursday night.

Despite a spirited late push, the Lions could not overturn a two-goal deficit, with Ilhan Fandi’s strike proving too little, too late.

Malaysia Strike First in Front of Home Crowd

Roared on by over 22,000 passionate fans, Malaysia started brightly and immediately put the Singapore defence under pressure. Goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud produced two fine saves in the opening minutes, denying Arif Aiman and Stuart Wilkin.

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Endrick dos Santos picked out Wilkin with a clever chipped pass. The Malaysian midfielder volleyed home with precision to give the Harimau Malaya a deserved lead.

PHOTO: FAS

Singapore responded through Song Uiyoung, who tested goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli with a powerful effort in the 29th minute, but Malaysia held firm going into halftime.

Figueiredo Doubles the Lead

After the break, Malaysia extended their advantage. In the 54th minute, forward Joao Figueiredo found space in the box and calmly slotted in Wilkin’s driven cross to make it 2-0. The Brazilian-born striker almost grabbed a second later in the half but narrowly missed connecting with another chance.

Ilhan Fandi Sparks Hope

The Lions refused to go down without a fight. Substitute Ilhan Fandi made an immediate impact in the 72nd minute, shrugging off Nooa Laine before unleashing a stunning long-range strike into the bottom corner. His goal reignited Singapore’s hopes and shifted momentum.

Singapore pressed hard in the closing stages, but Malaysia’s defence held firm to secure the 2-1 victory.

PHOTO: FAS

Coach Gavin Lee’s Post-Match Reflections

Interim head coach Gavin Lee acknowledged his side’s mistakes but praised their resilience.

“We always play to win, so we are disappointed with the result. There were good phases in our game, but we weren’t calm enough in critical moments,” Lee said.

“When we trusted ourselves, we found good solutions in both attack and defence. Now, recovery is key as we prepare for the next match.”

What’s Next for the Lions?

The Lions will now face Myanmar in a closed-door friendly on 9 September 2025. This fixture will serve as their final tune-up before a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying double-header against India in October.

With promising performances from young talents like Ilhan Fandi, Singapore fans will hope the team can build momentum and sharpen their edge ahead of competitive fixtures. #SgFootball #AFCAsianCup2027 #AsianCupQualifiers