SHAH ALAM: Zimbabwe may be the highest ranked team in the Merdeka Tournament but they were a huge letdown when they slumped to a 2-4 loss to Singapore’s Under-23 squad in the opening Group B match at the Shah Alam Stadium last night.

In another Group B match, the Indonesian Under-23 boys scored a slim 1-0 win over Bangladesh in front of 3,000-odd fans, thanks to a Cornelius Map strike in the 27th minute.  

Bangladesh had come with their second team as their national team are currently competing in the Nehru Cup tournament in India. Zimbabwe have also sent their second stringers. Their first team were involved in an international friendly against Mozambique on Monday, which ended in a goalless draw.  

Singapore, who are also not fielding their national team, raced to a 4-0 lead in the first half with goals from Agu Casmir (fifth), Mohd Khairul Amri (22nd), Mohd Ridhuan Mohd (30th) and Fazrul Nawas (34th). But the unpredictable Zimbabweans came alive after the breather and reduced the deficit with goals from Johannes Ngodzo (48th) and Lionel Mtizwa (60th).  

Singapore then adopted a defensive strategy to keep Zimbabwe at bay until the final whistle. A disappointed Zimbabwe coach S. Chidzambga slammed his players, especially the defenders, for the soft goals they conceded in the first half.  “We gave the match away and conceded stupid goals. Although we raised our game in the second half, the damage was already done and we lost to a better team,” said Chidzambwa.  

Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic said his boys paid the price for becoming complacent in the second half.  “We conceded two goals from 30m out and that woke us up,” said Avramovic.