Finnish Excursion
Quah Han Kok was well-prepared for his first away international as the U-20 manager had kindly named his first eleven two days beforehand, and responded by being clearly the top performer in midfield. The game started brilliantly for U-20 Singapore, as they raced to 3-0 by half-time, during which Finland's Matias Åkerman missed a penalty and their striker Taisto Latva-Äijö got sent off for injuring his opposite number Kok Teck Shun.
Quah was sure that he would savour his first U-20 victory, but Finland underwent some sort of transformation after the break. They became ruthlessly efficient, hemming Singapore in, and manufactured three good chances, all scored on.
"With an extra man, we thought it would be a formality to last the second half," a disappointed Quah said. "However, we thought too lightly of the effect a passionate home crowd can have on the players. We must keep our edge against Kenya in the World Cup Qualifiers next Friday. They held Hong Kong to a draw and troubled Peru."
