Singapore’s Under-17s lost 4-2 to India in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night, 11 November 2026, in their second match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 qualifiers. Striker Izzan Farid scored both Singapore goals, but India captain Dallalmuon Gangte answered with a hat-trick. Hosts Malaysia are next, on Saturday 14 November at 9pm Singapore time.
How the goals went in
Singapore had the first clear chance. In the fifth minute Aidan Irfan pounced on a defensive mistake, went through one on one with goalkeeper Maroof Shafi and chipped over the bar.
The opener came in the 27th minute. India centre-back Leo Thongbam was slow to clear, Izzan nipped in to take the ball off him and finished from close range. The lead lasted two minutes. Sailex Oinam chipped a pass into the box, Gangte turned his marker and drove a low left-footed shot inside the near post.
India went ahead from the penalty spot in the 61st minute, after Hrishikesh Manavathi was brought down in the box, and Gangte placed the kick into the top corner. Singapore were level again in the 65th. A corner from the right was floated into the box and Izzan headed it in unmarked for 2-2.
The decisive moment came seven minutes from time. Substitute David Irom sold a dummy and shot, goalkeeper Ilhan Rezal parried, and Gangte was first to the rebound to complete his hat-trick. Another substitute, Ristik Maity, made it 4-2 in the 89th minute, putting a loose ball into an empty net.
A strong start against Guam
The defeat followed a 6-0 opening win over Guam at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium on Sunday, 8 November. Singapore were 5-0 up at half-time after two early penalties, the first converted by Caden Pereira in the second minute, and further goals from Aidan Irfan, Lai Keng Lum and Tyler Tan. Putera Irfan added the sixth a minute after the restart.
Where Group E stands
After two rounds, Palestine lead with six points from two wins: 2-0 against Malaysia and 5-0 against Guam. India and Singapore have three points each, India from one game and Singapore from two. Malaysia have played once and have no points, and Guam have none from two games.
Only the group winner goes through to the finals in Uzbekistan in May 2027, so there is little room left for another slip. Head coach Ashraf Ariffin set the target before the tournament: “to be competitive in every match and give ourselves the best possible chance of qualifying for the Finals”.
Singapore’s remaining fixtures
- Saturday 14 November, 9pm Singapore time: Malaysia v Singapore
- Friday 20 November, 3.30pm Singapore time: Singapore v Palestine
Both games are in Kuala Lumpur. India play Guam on 14 November, Palestine on 17 November and Malaysia on 20 November, so Palestine still have to face both India and Singapore. The group matches are streamed live on the FAM TV Malaysia YouTube channel.
Most of the 23-man squad play for Lion City Sailors, with Geylang International and Tampines Rovers also represented, alongside players based with clubs in Spain and Portugal. For 16 of them, this is their first tournament at this level with the national age-group side.
